5 Jun 2017

Umaga keen to put 2005 tackle to bed

4:13 pm on 5 June 2017

Blues coach Tana Umaga fears the furore around the tackle that put Brian O'Driscoll out of the 2005 British and Irish Lions series may never end.

Former Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll and Former All Black captain Tana Umaga ahead of the 2005 Lions Tour.

Former Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll and Former All Black captain Tana Umaga ahead of the 2005 Lions Tour. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The former All Blacks captain will coach the Blues in Wednesday's Eden Park clash against the Lions, having moved from hard-hitting centre to Super Rugby mentor in the 12 years since the tourists' last New Zealand visit.

Umaga and Keven Mealamu's tip-tackle a minute into the first All Blacks Test against the Lions in 2005 left the tourists' captain and champion Irish centre with a tour-ending shoulder injury.

Mealamu recently admitted he still "feels a stink" about that tackle - but both men have always insisted the incident was a total mistake.

The Lions reacted furiously to O'Driscoll's injury at the time, with accusations and recriminations flying around.

However, Umaga has now called for the whole scenario to be put to bed.

"That was 12 years ago, if people can't put it behind them I suppose they never will," said Umaga, ahead of the Blues hosting the Lions in Auckland on Wednesday.

"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."

The 44-year-old has told his Blues squad to embrace the rare privilege of facing a Lions side that only tours New Zealand every 12 years.

"It's a great opportunity and for our guys to be involved in something pretty special," said Umaga.

The All Blacks won the 2005 series 3-0, in one of the Lions' worst tours in recent memory.

-AAP