All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger has described the sickening incident which ended Brian O'Driscoll's Lions tour as ''a pure accident.''

Lions players and management are still fuming about the double spear-tackle by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu which put O'Driscoll in hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

O'Driscoll saw his Lions Test captaincy last just 77 seconds, and he has now been replaced as leader by Welsh international Gareth Thomas.

Mauger though, is certain his midfield partner Umaga meant O'Driscoll no harm, claiming: ''It was a pure accident, really.

''If you look at Tana's record, he is a pretty clean player, so we have put that behind us. It has been dealt with, and we are just moving on.''

And Canterbury star Mauger sympathised with O'Driscoll's plight, which is likely to worsen in the short-term as he prepares for the probability of surgery.

''The boys certainly wish Brian all the best with his recovery. It is pretty sad to see a good player like that leave the tour so early,'' Mauger added.

''Personally, I was looking forward to getting a bit of a run against him to match myself against one of the best players in the world. It is a shame he is out of the tour.''

Lions legend JPR Williams, meanwhile, has accused Sir Clive Woodward of using O'Driscoll's injury to spin public attention away from Saturday's first Test defeat to New Zealand.

''All this media (attention) is all actually trying to blow over fact the Lions were totally out-played by the All Blacks,'' said Williams.

''One of the things he said was that only players on form would be picked. (The Lions lost because of) a belief that players with great reputations can produce form 18 months later. That has proved not to be the case."

l World Cup winners Jason Robinson and Martin Corry appear to be fighting for their Lions Test team places.

Lions chief Sir Clive Woodward has named both England stars in his midweek side to face New Zealand second division outfit Manawatu in Palmerston North today. Robinson endured a miserable night at full-back in Auckland, and was substituted midway through the second half, but Corry's inclusion is a surprise.

l Newcastle Falcons will have to overcome former number eight Semo Sititi if they are to lift next season's European Challenge Cup following the group draw for the competition, writes SCOTT WILSON.

The Falcons have been drawn against Scottish side Borders, French outfit Brive and Italian side L'Aquila in the first round of the tournament.

Sititi rejoined the Borders, who are coached by former Falcons duo Steve Bates and George Graham, earlier this summer.

The winners of each pool, plus the three best runners-up, progress to the final.

Next season's Powergen Cup is also being played on a group basis, with the 12 Guinness Premiership teams being joined by the four Welsh regions.

The Falcons will start their campaign with a home game against Sale Sharks, before completing their schedule with away matches at Llanelli Scarlets and Leeds Tykes.