The incident involving Lewsey and Williams was missed by the referee More pictures from Wellington

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 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.

"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."

Meanwhile, All Black scrumhalf Justin Marshall, who pulled a hamstring muscle in the defeat by England, has been replaced by Otago's Byron Kelleher for Saturday's Test against Wales.

Marshall is also expected to miss the Test against France in Christchurch the following week.

But back in the frame is fullback Leon MacDonald, who pulled out of the England match because of dizziness after suffering a head injury in the Super 12 final.

He was passed fit by the New Zealand medics at the weekend.