Tana Who?

Mungaman

Ok fellas this will probably arouse a bit of "discussion" but here goes hot off the wire at home in New Zealand.
Tana Umanga is more than likely not going to be facing Ireland on Nov 12. As described in the passage below Graham Henry has stated that he will not be playing any of the current All Blacks in all four consecutive Grand Slam rugby tests this Autum.
As a kiwi even I'm p*ssed off could be a smoke screen? and he may be rested for the Scotland match.

article 1.1
"Henry has been emphatic in his view that none of his touring All Blacks will start all four tests which are held on consecutive Saturdays, starting with the clash against Wales on November 5 in Cardiff.

After that the All Blacks meet Ireland in Dublin (Nov 12), England at Twickenham (Nov 19) and Scotland in Edinburgh (Nov 26) as they seek to become the first New Zealand side since 1978 to complete the Grand Slam of the four Home Unions.

Henry has gone on the record saying that it is impossible for a player to be effective in four consecutive tests at this level and that he will not ask any of his players to start the entire quartet.

For that reason he has asked for, and received, an enlarged touring squad of 35 that will allow him to strategically rest and replace key men through the four internationals.

It's an approach that Umaga is all in favour of, the Wellington midfielder agreeing with Henry's pragmatism.

"I don't think I've played four tests in a row ever," Umaga told the Dominion-Post newspaper.

"You want to play the first few. Wales are the Six Nations champions so I want to play against them, and England, for being England. [But] who knows how it's going to work. I don't have a clue."

The 32-year-old Umaga is sure to be used strategically by Henry who will want him at his best for the key tests.

And, as the All Black skipper touched on, they may well be the opener against Wales and the third test against England.

Wales are the Six Nations champions and are sure to be fired up for the Guy Fawkes night spectacular, being billed as the clash of the hemispheres. And England have proven a tough nut for the All Blacks to crack at Twickenham in recent times.

It may be that Henry decides the Irish test is a "strategic" time to rest Umaga given the furore that would likely surround any possible rematch between he and Brian O'Driscoll.

Umaga was a figure of controversy during the recent Lions series for his part in the cleanout that forced O'Driscoll out of the contest. He dislocated his shoulder in the opening minute of the opening test, with much finger-pointing emanating from the tourists and their media over the All Black captain's culpability.

The incident is sure to be revisited when the All Blacks hit Ireland, regardless of O'Driscoll's fitness, with any decision to rest Umaga from the Dublin test likely to be seen as an attempt to defuse a potentially volatile situation.

Whatever, Umaga told the Wellington paper that the Lions series had highlighted the difficulty of peaking for three straight Saturdays, let alone four. He conceded " everyone will get a run" among the touring squad.

"It's the harsh reality of the way the game is going now - it's so fast and so full of contact. It's just so tough."

For all that, Umaga may well be one of the All Blacks who is severely under-done heading into the tour.

Having only made his NPC return last week against Auckland, the midfielder will have had just the two hitouts since the end of the Tri Nations, with his Wellington side missing out on the semifinals." end article 1.1

Red Soup

Yep, Umaga's getting old

I never really expected him to play the November test, but i did expect O'Driscoll to be back... grr. Still, it will be a fiery match, gan dabht

Steffano2002

I'll be at the match and I'm hoping for a beautiful display of rugby whether or not BOD or Umaga are playing. I'm also hoping the Irish public will respect the All Blacks on the day, even after the incident involving the two abovementioned players. I would hate to feel like I'm at a Premiership match in England :mad: