UMAGA AND O’DRISCOLL TALK ABOUT THAT SPEAR OVER A BEER
By DAIRE WALSH
BRIAN O’DRISCOLL and Tana Umaga are hopeful that their infamous confrontation on the 2005 Lions Tour to New Zealand can be consigned to the history books.
The two old foes were brought together by Guinness ahead of this weekend’s clash between Ireland and the All Blacks.
Umaga’s spear tackle – in tandem with Keven Mealamu – brought the Clontarf man’s reign as Lions skipper to an abrupt halt 13 years ago.
“I get asked about it all the time. We parked it a long time ago,” O’Driscoll explained.
“We see each other at events here and there and have a quick word. To have a get-together and chew the fat, and properly get to talk and not feel scared by it is refreshing. I hope it’s dead after this.”
Umaga added: “We can’t change the past. Hopefully this will really put it behind people and we will make peace with it.”