New Zealand lock Ali Williams has been cleared of intentionally stamping on the head of Josh Lewsey during England's victory in Wellington on Saturday.
Williams appeared in front of a 90-minute judicial committee hearing at the New Zealand Rugby Union offices in Wellington after he was reported for the alleged offence by citing commissioner Michael Somes.
Lewsey was forced from the field in the 75th minute of England's 15-13 victory with abrasions on his face and required stitches to a gash on the back of his head.
Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge and the independent panel, chaired by Australian Michael Goodwin and including New Zealand QC Bruce Squires and rugby administrator Mattie Blackburn, ruled contact with Lewsey's head had been accidental.
"The judiciary committee determined the contact with the English player's head was inadvertent and incidental to Williams' endeavour to ruck the football in a situation where access to it was impeded by the position of the English players in the ruck," the committee's statement said.
"In consequence, the judiciary committee found the offence not proven and no further action will be taken."
Lewsey said immediately after the game that he was unsure whether the incident had been intentional and was happy to leave it to the judiciary committee.
But he stressed his hope was that Williams had not deliberately targeted his head as he lay at the bottom of the ruck.
"There are certain things that are taboo in the game," said Lewsey, with a heavily marked face and three stitches visible in the back of his head.
"I got a couple (of stamps) in the face and on the back of the head and then I realised it was coming again so I turned my head to avoid getting one in the eye.
"You know straight away that you are cut and feel the blood going down your neck. It was painful at the time but you have a lot of adrenaline running through you."
Williams, 22, was winning his fourth All Black cap after making his debut against England at Twickenham.
He did not take up the game until he was 16, preferring to represent Auckland at football, but was a regular fixture for Super 12 champions the Blues this season.