O'Driscoll attacked over tackle reaction

Duncan Bech
Wednesday 26 September 2007 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tana Umaga has reignited his feud with Brian O'Driscoll by branding the Ireland captain a "sook" for his reaction to the spear tackle that ended his Lions tour two years ago.

O'Driscoll had shoulder surgery following the challenge by Umaga and Keven Mealamu moments into the opening Test against the All Blacks in 2005. In his new autobiography, Umaga writes he was left stunned by the "sustained personal attack" that followed.

The 34-year-old, now a coach at Toulon, calls O'Driscoll a "sook", a word used to for a "timid, cowardly person or cry-baby".

"The sustained personal attack they [the Lions] launched against me was hard to believe and even harder to stomach," said Umaga. "You don't want to take it personally but it's almost impossible not to when another player, a guy you had some respect for, attacks your character in the most direct and damning terms. My first thought was 'jeez, don't be a sook; there's no use crying about it, man, it's over'.

"At first, the kerfuffle didn't really bother me. But it just snowballed and O'Driscoll kept going on about the fact that I hadn't rung him to say sorry.

"I finally obtained his number and got hold of him but it wasn't a warm exchange."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in