O'Driscoll comes bearing no grudges

'I'm a big believer in time healing all wounds'

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll claims he has no axe to grind with Keven Mealamu in the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand.

The last time O'Driscoll toured the country – as captain of last year's Lions party – he lasted only one minute of the first Test before picking up a dislocated shoulder after a double-tackle from Mealamu and Tana Umaga.

In the immediate aftermath of the 1st Test, Richard Smith QC, who provided legal support for the Lions, brought the incident to the attention of citing commissioner Willem Venter, but the South African decided that Mealamu or Umaga had no case to answer.

The 'tackle' put the Leinster centre out of action for a full six months and dominated the Lions tour, which ended in a 3-0 series win to the hosts, but O'Driscoll insists it has all been forgotten.

"Of course it was a difficult moment in my life and in my career but I'm a big believer in time healing all wounds," O'Driscoll said.

"As soon as I started playing again I just got on with the rest of my life and signed it off to a chapter in my life that probably wasn't the most positive, but you're going to get them.

"There's no ill feeling, it's just one of these things that happened."

When asked about Umaga's recent hangbag-swinging escapades, O'Driscoll played his shot with a wry smile and a straight bat.

"Tana's not a dirty player and likewise Keven, so you just accept them for what they say and get on with it," said the Irishman.

"But I'm keeping the handbag gags to myself."

Umaga will be relieved to learn that security footage of the incident O'Driscoll mentioned has been removed from an online auction.