Tana Umaga wary of reopening old wounds caused by his infamous spear tackle

It did not take long for Tana Umaga to hear the year 2005 mentioned but when it came, the question was not the one he’d been bracing himself for.

A dozen years since the last British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand is a lot of water under the bridge and that has suited the former All Blacks captain just fine after the moment of controversy that for many overshadowed the Test series.

It really should have been put to bed years ago but a first visit by the Lions since then has reopened the wounds caused by that spear tackle in the opening minute of the first Test in 2005, when captain Brian O’Driscoll was upended by Umaga and Keven Mealamu, ending the Irish legend’s involvement in the tour just as it was reaching the juicy part.