Reihana rues missed opportunity

AT home in New Zealand they were contemporaries, made their All-Black debuts together in 2000, played together against France and Italy that year.

But just before 6pm on Saturday, in one of the Heineken Cup quarter-final’s defining moments, they were on opposite sides, Doug Howlett on the right wing for Munster facing Bruce Reihana, on the left wing for Northampton.

Having just received the ball from Ronan O’Gara after the out-half had made a split-second decision to go blindside rather than open, Doug now had ball in hand and a try on his mind, but Reihana was in a good position, with help on his outside if needed. A 180-degree twist from Howlett, however, a powerful surge as he now headed for the line in an almost backward semi-seated position, and – cruel as it may seem to say so – there it was, the reason in an instant why Howlett claimed 63 All-Black caps and Reihana just two.