Wallabies captain James Horwill was yesterday cleared to play in next weekend’s second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, Australia.
Horwill was found not guilty on a charge of stamping or trampling an opponent during Saturday’s first Test won by the Lions 23-21 in Brisbane.
The Wallabies skipper was cited before a disciplinary hearing under Law 10.4b, where a player must not stamp or trample on an opponent.
Horwill was alleged to have stamped or trampled on Lions’ lock Alun Wyn Jones in the third minute of the opening Test.
In handing down his decision, judicial officer Nigel Hampton found that on the balance of probabilities he could not find an intentional or deliberate action of stamping or trampling.
“After hearing all the evidence, I could not find that when James Horwill’s right foot came into glancing contact with Alun Wyn Jones’ face, that he Horwill was acting recklessly,” Hampton said.
Meanwhile, the injury-hit Wallabies yesterday called up veteran flanker George Smith among three reinforcements for the squad for next weekend’s Test.
Smith, his Brumbies teammate Jesse Mogg and Queensland Reds center Ben Tapuai have all been added to the Wallabies squad.
The call-ups follow a spate of injuries in the first Test, with doubts over inside center Pat McCabe (neck), winger Digby Ioane (shoulder), center Adam Ashley-Cooper (shoulder) and fullback Berrick Barnes (head knock).
All four players were sent for scans after the game, with their selection prospects for the second Test to be determined in the early part of this week.
The status of inside center Christian Leali’ifano, who took a head blow and was carried off in the opening minute of the first Test, will also be reviewed further once the Wallabies settle in Melbourne, team officials said.
Meanwhile, Irish prop Tom Court has been called up as cover for injured British and Irish Lions forward Alex Corbisiero, team officials said yesterday. Corbisiero injured a calf muscle in the first Test and is being assessed.
Australian-born Court was in Brisbane this weekend after Ireland’s tour of North America and will go straight on to the replacements bench for tomorrow’s tour match against the Melbourne Rebels.
There were also reports yesterday that Irish lock Paul O’Connell has an arm injury and that his participation in the rest of the tour is in doubt.
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