British and Irish Lions: O'Driscoll ruled out of third Test

Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009 13:16

IRELAND captain Brian O'Driscoll has become the latest tour-ending casualty for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa.

The Leinster centre will fly home tomorrow, along with Wales prop Adam Jones, missing next Saturday's third Test at Ellis Park.

O'Driscoll, Lions skipper in New Zealand four years ago, was concussed during the agonising 28-25 second Test defeat in Pretoria three days ago.

His 2005 tour ended in the first minute of the opening Test after he was spear-tackled by All Blacks players Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga.

The Leinster centre has been one of the Lions' stars of their 10-match South Africa trip, forging an outstanding midfield combination with Wales star Jamie Roberts.

• SOUTH Africa are to appeal against the two-week ban given to Bakkies Botha for dangerous charging on British and Irish Lion Adam Jones in Saturday's second Test in Pretoria.

Assistant coach Dick Muir said: "We certainly don't see any wrong-doing in that challenge and if it wasn't for the injury which came from it, I don't think anything would have been said about it."