Umaga likely to be left out for Ireland Test

ALL BLACKS captain Tana Umaga may be shielded from playing in front of irate Irish rugby fans next month as coach Graham Henry looks to keep his players’ workloads in check during a rare Grand Slam tour.

Umaga is seen as a villain in Ireland after a controversial tackle dislocated the shoulder of national captain Brian O’Driscoll in June during the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

O’Driscoll is still recovering from the injury and will not be available for next month’s Test, while Henry has said Umaga will be rested for one game early in the four-Test schedule which takes in Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland in successive weeks.