It was an accident, says Umaga

Tana Umaga insisted yesterday the tackle which ruled Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll out of the tour was a complete accident - but he refused to explain how it happened.

The All Black captain was speaking for the first time about the incident which marred the start of the first test in Christchurch last weekend.

Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu upended O'Driscoll and dislocated his shoulder inside the first minute of the test.

Asked to confirm what happened was an accident and not retribution or a deliberate act, Umaga replied: "Yes, yes."

But he denied it was foul play.

He said he would be seeking a one-on-one meeting with O'Driscoll.

Last night, Umaga left a central Wellington hotel just before the Lions held a media session there.

NZRU officials would not say whether Umaga had been there to speak to O'Driscoll, honouring his desire that any such meeting be private.

Earlier, the 32-year-old centre said: "It was disappointing what happened. But I play hard. That's just the way I am. It was an unfortunate incident, but these things happen."

Asked why he had not gone across to offer a sympathic hand to O'Driscoll as he was lying prone on the ground, Umaga, leading the All Blacks for the 12th time in his 65th test, said it was a question of priorities.

"I felt my more important role was to the team. I had to try to keep them together, talk about things we could do."

O'Driscoll squatted and picked up a piece of grass during the haka, leading to speculation the All Blacks had viewed it as some form of disrespect.

"Obviously it was different. It caught us on the hop," Umaga admitted. "Each team has its own way of approaching the haka. The haka is for us, it's about what it means for the All Blacks, to try to put us in the right frame of mind."

Umaga was disappointed by a Herald editorial critical of the All Black management's reluctance to discuss the issue at the time.

"I believe we try to raise standards," he said.

"I understand we are role models for a lot of people in this country, and when that is hit, that's the most disappointing thing for me."

Umaga refused to talk through the tackle.

"It would take too long to explain. It's Wednesday. We've got two days to prepare for a game.

"I could explain it, but everybody has already made their decisions [made their mind up]."

Meanwhile, the IRB has waded into the tackle debate, with chairman Syd Millar believing the sport is more dangerous now that teams are bending the law at cleanouts.

Millar said the injury to O'Driscoll had only served to highlight a serious problem.

"That tackle was made when the ball was gone and that's been happening," Millar said. "It's not part of rugby to be taking people out off the ball. It's dangerous, it shouldn't be part of rugby."

- additional reporting NZPA