Mealamu hoping to bury hatchet
Mealamu and Kiwi captain Tana Umaga were responsible for sidelining the Irish captain for six months after their joint tackle on the centre only minutes into the first Lions test in Christchurch.
The Samoan-born international claims to have little memory of the incident. It’s the aftermath of it that he wants to forget, describing the last 12 months as the most difficult period in his entire career.
“It was, personally, perhaps the hardest time I’ve ever had in my career,” the 32-Test veteran told International Rugby News.
“It’s not the same as a collective disappointment like we had in 2003 after losing the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
“That wasn’t pleasant, but at least I went through that with my team-mates. We all felt the hurt. Last year, even though I knew that I had a lot of support, I did feel a little bit isolated. It was a trial by media which I was pretty powerless to do much about. It was not a lot of fun.”
Bad as it’s been for Mealamu, the brunt of the criticism from the northern hemisphere zeroed in on Umaga who was quickly vilified.
“It was worse for him,” Mealamu agrees. “His head was out there, he bore the brunt of it. I felt quite sorry for him through it all, but Tee’s got pretty broad shoulders and he just took it all.
“Everyone within our camp was pretty supportive, but I tried to keep as low a profile as I could. I guess with Tana copping most of the criticism, I was able to get away with that.”
Mealamu has admitted that the incident has played on his mind over the course of the last year. The hardest time came during the historic Grand Slam tour when the Irish leg of the tour swung around.
Friends of his in the game have admitted that the incident left him down for some time, but he was totally unprepared for the kind of welcome that awaited him on arrival at Dublin airport and beyond.
“I did worry that there might still be a bit of bad blood there, but I needn’t have as it turned out,” Mealamu says.
“The reception was great. The Irish people were magnificent towards us, and really hospitable, while the atmosphere playing in the Test at Lansdowne Road was just awesome.”
Though the All Blacks played the diplomatic card at the time, many of the team were known to have been critical of O’Driscoll’s refusal to let the incident die thanks to the launch of his book and DVD in and around the ‘autumn’ internationals.
Mealamu never got the opportunity to meet the Leinster player during their visit, but is hopeful that the two can meet some time over the next few weeks and finally put the entire controversy to rest.
“I haven’t had the chance to speak to Brian. He wasn’t around after the Test we played in Dublin, but hopefully we’ll get the chance to catch up and have a talk on this tour, now that the heat has gone out of it.
“I’m a big believer that time heals every wound and I’m sure this will be no different.”
With the best the British Isles could muster getting such a thumping last summer, Ireland will visit New Zealand and Australia knowing they have a formidable task on their hands.
Even by their own lofty standards, the All Blacks were in scintillating form in 2005 and Mealamu is hoping 2006 proves to be no different.
“I suppose, after setting such a high standard, it does make you wonder a bit, whether we can reach such heights again this year, but we’ll have to.”
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