Paper heralds a shift in NZ attitudes over O’Driscoll spearing

NEW ZEALAND’s leading newspaper has fuelled the British and Irish Lions’ sense of injustice over the Brian O’Driscoll ‘spearing’ controversy.

The New Zealand Herald admitted that the affair had sullied the “good name of New Zealand rugby.”

In its editorial yesterday, the newspaper describes the “tackle” perpetrated by All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu as “reckless and dangerous”, and unbecoming of a man (Umaga) who only six months ago received international recognition for fair play.

“It (the tackle) may even have been malicious,” the paper’s editorial opines. “Although that is unlikely, we do not know, and possibly never will. We do know that the tackle, the on-field aftermath and the subsequent reactions by the All Blacks bestow little credit on New Zealand rugby.

“O’Driscoll’s anger seemed directed as much at the All Blacks’ reaction as the tackle itself. Quite reasonably, he suggested it should have been a matter of “common courtesy” for Umaga to check on the condition of the opposing captain before he was taken by stretcher from the field. It is, indeed, unfathomable that a player of the All Black captain’s reputation did not extend that courtesy. It can only be surmised that, with the game barely into its stride when the injury occurred, Umaga’s judgment was clouded by adrenalin.

“The Lions captain also suggested that Umaga’s lack of action might have been influenced by a sense of guilt. If there was an element of mischief in that, there may also be a snippet of truth.”

The Herald also believes Umaga’s cause was not helped by the like-minded attitude of the All Blacks management.

“The coaches must have recognised the enormity of the incident, even though, as they insisted, it had no influence on the outcome of the match. They should have come to the media conference willing to talk about it from an All Black perspective.

“The Lions also have an obvious cause for grievance over the curious workings of the citings commissioner. Willem Venter, of South Africa, who decided that video footage of the incident was inconclusive, and then flew out of Christchurch on Sunday morning. Clearly, the Lions, and rugby followers, deserved a fuller explanation of why Umaga or Mealamu was not cited. And why Venter could leave the country so quickly.

“Touch judge Andrew Cole’s part in the affair was also odd. He appeared ready to draw the tackle to the referee’s attention, but then opted not to.”

However Lions legend JPR Williams has accused Clive Woodward of using O’Driscoll’s injury to spin public attention away from Saturday’s first Test defeat.

“All this media attention is all actually trying to blow over fact the Lions were totally outplayed,” said Williams.

“Having spent so much money on the players, it is embarrassing. One of the things he said was that only players on form would be picked. The Lions lost because of a belief that players with great reputations can produce form 18 months later. That has proved not to be the case.

“All this citing business doesn’t interest me at all.”

Meanwhile, rugby league players involved in the type of spear tackle which ended O’Driscoll’s tour would have faced immediate disciplinary action, according to officials.

The Rugby Football League recently issued a directive to clarify the position on spear tackles.

“Spear tackling is illegal in rugby league,” said RFL match officials director Stuart Cummings. “Any player who lifts an opponent beyond the horizontal in a tackle situation is immediately penalised.”