Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll warms up the focus of the Umaga tackle controversy. Picture / Greg Bowker
Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll warms up the right shoulder at the centre of the Tana Umaga spear tackle controversy last year.
Fresh off the plane and ready for his team's two-test series against the All Blacks, Irish captain Ian O'Driscoll was in good spirits as he participated in a light
training run in Auckland yesterday.
With the man of the moment and the rest of his teammates shielded from the media, it was left to Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan to answer questions about the infamous tackle.
He said O'Driscoll was looking forward to taking on the All Blacks again, and didn't want to hear anything more about the controversial tackle by Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu.
"It's all done and dusted. It's ancient history I think, there's not much point talking about it," O'Sullivan said. "Obviously he's disappointed with how the Lions tour went for him. He didn't get to play that much but he's looking forward to this test series."
O'Driscoll's tune seems to have changed since the All Blacks toured Ireland at the end of last year.
Barely had the All Blacks touched down, when he came out swinging with a tour diary in which he claimed the Umaga tackle was "done in cold blood".
He wrote: "They could have broken my neck for all they seemed to care."
Time seems to have been the healer, with the Irish midfielder taking a more conciliatory line before he left for New Zealand. "Everything that has gone on is water under the bridge at this stage and I just want to get on with things," he told Irish media." I want to put that chapter of my life behind me."
Meanwhile, the saga of the Umaga handbag took a new twist yesterday, with grainy television footage of Umaga's swing at a teammate now up for auction.
Christchurch's Jolly Poacher Tavern has posted 30 seconds of the footage on Trade Me, showing Umaga "playfully swatting" at fellow Hurricane Chris Masoe's head with a woman's handbag. The handbag went for $22,750.
Tavern owner Ira McCully said a "percentage" of profits would go to the Cancer Society. Last night bids had reached $1010, past the reserve.
