Tana Umaga On That Infamous Brian O’Driscoll Spear Tackle
Latest posts by Will Matthews (see all)
- Munster close in on the signing of Irish-qualified centre - January 17, 2025
- Jordie Barrett heaps praise on exciting young Irish duo - January 17, 2025
- Simon Easterby names his 36-man Ireland squad for the Six Nations - January 15, 2025
Tana Umaga fears the controversy around the spear tackle that put Brian O’Driscoll out of the 2005 British and Irish Lions series may never end.
Umaga and his All Blacks teammate Kevin Mealamu put O’Driscoll out of the series just seconds into the first Test back in 2005 with a horrific challenge that could have ended the young centre’s career.
The pair however, escaped any punishment with the All Blacks going on to win the series 3-0 amidst a PR disaster for both teams. 12 years on Umaga faces the Lions once again, this time as Auckland Blues coach for Wednesday’s game.
Mealamu recently admitted he still ‘feels a stink’ 12 years on but Umaga is of the belief that people should move on from the incident.
“That was 12 years ago, if people can’t put it behind them I suppose they never will,” Umaga told the Press Association.
“It’s not about that time now. It’s about this group now and against the Lions and hopefully the memories they make that are positive ones – and we just move on from that.”
