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'Lions team was immense in '05': The bizarre regularity that Lions fans still bring up the Umaga tackle over 15 years later
As the Lions tour approaches, memories and documentaries of old tours are surfacing to build-up to the special occasion when the Springboks will host the best of the home nations this July.
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The nostalgia is sparking discussions around the notorious 2005 Lions tour, many felt the side ‘underperformed’ under Sir Clive Woodward who fell 3-0 at the hands of a rampant New Zealand side featuring the emergence of Dan Carter as the world’s best player.
Just in case you didn't know: Recently discovered Sky Sports have all the Lions Tour documentaries as well as some of the Test matches in their entirety! So good. Very nostalgic watching them.
The 2005 disaster tour of New Zealand maybe the most interesting one.
— Peter Lockhart (Ulster Rugby Lad) (@dplockhart) May 15, 2021
The most infamous moment of the tour arguably came in the first minute of the first test, when a dangerous clean out by Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga became a spear tackle on star Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll.
? "I knew pretty much instantly that it was pretty serious"
The injury to @BrianODriscoll was a major moment in 2005
Watch Inside The Lions Den, the 2005 documentary, in full tomorrow night at 10pm on @SkySports Arena#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/w7d2OYhC7N
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 19, 2021
“I was getting lifted, by both legs as it turned out by Mealamu and Tana, both lifted me up a leg a piece and then I got dropped down on my shoulder,” the Lions centre said later in the Lions Den documentary.
“I knew pretty much instantly it was pretty serious.”
The tackle put the Lions captain out of action for the entire series and has been talked about ever since, with some believing that O’Driscoll’s injury was so critical it changed the trajectory of the series for what was an ‘immense’ Lions side.
One fan wrote ‘tour could have been much different’ if Umaga had been sanctioned with a red card. Under today’s rules, a double red card for the All Blacks pair would have been likely.
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Another believed a ‘fit BOD would’ve definitely levelled things up’ for the Lions against the All Blacks throughout the series as he was arguably the ‘best player in the world’ at that point.
Tour could have been much different if Umaga gets red in 1st minute. Lions team was immense in 05 but very poorly managed as you have just said
— Gazlufc (@erskine_gareth) May 15, 2021
Great example of how not to run a Lions tour! Self proclaimed leadership guru, Sir Clive Woodward, is a great example of when someone is most confident in their own ability can be the least competent.
— Peter Lockhart (Ulster Rugby Lad) (@dplockhart) May 15, 2021
Yeah umaga should have been off. He didn’t even apologise after which was poor form. Woodward certainly did very well in 2003 but got carried away with himself and his own importance
— Peter Lockhart (Ulster Rugby Lad) (@dplockhart) May 15, 2021
That tour was a shit-show and I don’t think the Lions were ever beating the ’05 version of Dan Carter, but blimey, a fit BOD would’ve definitely levelled things up a bit!
Nowadays that’s possibly a double red card offense for Umaga and Mealamu— Andrew Foster (@Rocketfoz) January 19, 2021
Greatest disgrace in the history of test rugby was that neither Tana Umaga nor Keven Mealamu were even penalised for the double spear tackle in Jade stadium that took Brian O’Driscoll out of the Lions Tour in first minute of the first test.
— HoneyGold (@IcebergsMelting) November 7, 2020
2005 British & Irish Lions tour, was a disgusting display of a lack of Mana from the ABs. After less than one minute of play New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and hooker Kevan Mealamu spear tackled O’Driscoll, dislocating his shoulder, ending his tour. They both deserved Red cards.
— Nathan Mercer ?? (@nathanm) September 22, 2019
O’Driscoll was arguably the best player in the world at this point. This incident probably decided the test series there and then.
Down there with McRae’s assault on O’Gara as worst lions incident I’ve seen.
— Koboca (@Koboca4) January 19, 2021
Was at the game. Horrendous tackle that was a red card in any other country. B&I Lions never recovered and were hammered.
— Bill Lindsay (@wgl50) January 19, 2021
Very nasty let's also consider the NZ assault on BOD in 2005. The most terrible thing I have ever seen in rugby.
Lions tour was rocked by most vicious assault professional rugby has seen https://t.co/cpIPJbvash
— DM (@patchdennizen) April 29, 2021
After winning the first test 21-3 in Christchurch, the All Blacks emphatically sealed the series in Wellington 48-18 on the back of a 33-point individual haul to Dan Carter. The final test ended with another blowout win to New Zealand, 38-19.
O’Driscoll returned for his third Lions tour in 2009 on the tour of South Africa, and played an influential part in turning the second test into one of the most remembered of all-time.
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The Irish centre was involved in multiple skirmishes with Springbok players and put his body on the line with sickening blows that required medical attention for both players, but the impetus shown by O’Driscoll fuelled the Lions to a near-victory if not for a Ronan O’Gara error in the dying stages.
Another fan wrote that although he was the best of his generation, he ‘was no angel’ on that South Africa tour, ‘out of control’ and ‘borderline thuggish’.
Amazing player, best of his generation.
I just wish all will let the Umaga incident go. The NZ bashing 16 years on is really tiresome.
BOD was also no angel…out of control and borderline thuggish in the Loftus test of the 2009 Lions Tour.
— Jakes Actually (@ActuallyJakes) April 2, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Leinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
13 Go to commentsWowee!
13 Go to comments