Oh we're bringing up the Umaga incident now are we? It's been a while since this was thrown in our faces. I just want to point out something quickly - It was a spear tackle that took place five years ago. Since then there has probably been hundreds of spear tackles taken place during international and first class matches. Get over it. O'Driscoll would not have changed the result of the Lions getting thrashed 3-0. I know this makes me sound like a prat, but the fact that this is still be brought up is pretty sad. The All Blacks have had a player spear tackled twice this year by Jaque Fourie and de Villiers.
People make claims that it was some kind of pre-planned assassnation, when realistically it was probably two players losing their heads at the wrong time, and something which is often an illegle, but common clearing went wrong and a good player was injured for it. The International Comitee for Fair Play awarded Umaga the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy, for potentially saving the life of Colin Charvis after he was hit in a tackle by Jerry Collins. Ask a majority of people from Ireland what they think of when they think of Tana Umaga, and you'll hear things like "thug" or "dirty player". The British and Irish press really blew the situation out of control, and even now, when there is a reference to it, Umaga is made out to be a thug.
I personally think O'Driscoll really did make this a bigger situation than it was. Yes it's frustrating being injured in a spare tackle, especially in a big test, but it was a total over reaction from both the Lions squad and the British and Irish media. Had the tables been turned, I can't see it being talked about today.
Umaga account -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru.../Tana-Umaga-reopens-Brian-ODriscoll-feud.html
(one of the many bias NH sources the Telegraph.)
O'Driscoll also admits to have had a conversation, but says some bits were left out.
If you want blown over the top, watch this-
Favourite quotes are -
"It was the single worst incident I've ever seen on a rugby pitch"
"If O'Drsicoll didn't have the upper body strength in his arms, and his hands, his neck would have been broken"
"The malace of trying to dislocate someone's sholder"
I'm sorry, bit it border lines the pathetic. New Zealand is guilty of bringing up past incidents like 1995 World Cup food poisoning and 2007 forward past, and I admit that is pretty lame as it is, but for this to still be going, and the fact that such an ordanary incident of foul play was balooned to this level, really is pretty sad.
