Black to the future

WITH Tana Umaga sitting out Saturday’s game, all Irish eyes are now likely to focus on Keven Mealamu, but the All Black hooker is relishing the prospect of running out at Lansdowne Road to what will probably be a hostile reception.

Mealamu has largely escaped the vilification heaped on Umaga since the pair combined for the tackle that badly damaged Brian O’Driscoll’s shoulder in the first Test against the Lions last June in Christchurch.

However, the Kiwis are understandably slightly miffed with the frequency the incident is being dredged up. Graham Henry said as much yesterday, but asking the Irish media to gloss over such a juicy sideshow is akin to ordering children to ignore an ice cream truck. As for Mealamu, he claimed he hadn’t given it much thought until his arrival in Dublin.