Leicester Tigers scrum-half Harry Ellis says the British & Irish Lions need to "move on" from the controversial eye-gouging incident which has dominated discussion in the aftermath of their defeat in the second Test by South Africa.

Referee Christophe Berdos and line-judge Bryce Lawrence were condemned by Lions head coach Ian McGeechan for their failure to give Springbok flanker Schalk Burger a red card after he was seen eye-gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald.

The Lions were then left seething over the eight-week ban handed out to Burger by a disciplinary committee. The minimum entry point for such an offence is 12 weeks.

But Ellis, who has been on the bench for both Tests against the world champions, says the incident is "all in the past now" as the tourists prepare for the finale to the three-match series in Johannesburg on Saturday.

He said: "The gouging incident was disappointing. We were all quite close to it on the bench and we all got a pretty good look at it.

"Gouging is gouging at the end of the day. You don't do it. But that is all in the past now. He's been banned for it anyway.

"At the time, it was disappointing that he got a yellow instead of a red card.

"But you don't know how the referee is going to react. It's a decision that I would not have liked to have made.

"We went 10 points ahead while he was off but they are a still a great team with 14 men on the pitch.

"It was a great game and both sets of fans made for a great atmosphere. It is something that will stay with me for a very long time."

Ellis will find out tomorrow if he has earned a third consecutive call-up to the match-day 22.

Wales' Mike Phillips has been given the nod in the starting XV on both previous occasions.

Ellis said he and rest of the squad were refreshed and looking forward to Saturday after enjoying a much-needed break at the start of this week with a trip into the South African bush. "We have had two days off on safari," he said.

"It was an early start and we had to get up at 5.30 on Monday morning – but it was really good to get away.

"We have had the last couple of days off and that has been very welcome.

"It was good to get a complete break from rugby because it has been very stressful and there has been a lot of pressure on the boys. It has been full-on for most of what has been a really busy tour, and to switch off and do something different was excellent."