All Blacks advise O'Driscoll to get over it

As fresh video evidence and the player's own tour diary yesterday put more wind into the sails of the Brian O'Driscoll Fan Club, senior All Black Richie McCaw had a word of advice for the Irishman.

The Lions captain's diary of this year's tour of New Zealand is coming out, coincidentally at the same time a video of the incident which put O'Driscoll out of the trip in the first test on June 28 has been presented to the International Rugby Board.

The IRB has criticised All Blacks Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu for the tackle and, predictably, O'Driscoll has slammed it in his book. The tackle left O'Driscoll with a dislocated shoulder in the first minute and he is still out of action as a result, and won't lead Ireland against the All Blacks next month.

It is likely to become a broken record over the next few weeks as the All Blacks tour Britain and Ireland, but McCaw said it's high time the issue was buried.

"It's all very well to be disappointed, but sometimes you've just got to let it go," McCaw said yesterday in a thinly-veiled tip to O'Driscoll.

"I guess with the tour coming up, it's a reason for people to talk and you've got to sell a book somehow.

"That was his big chance to captain the Lions. I just think of all the other players [injuries have] happened to. Guys miss trips through injuries. It happens to everyone."

McCaw said when the Lions' fury erupted after the Christchurch test, it helped tighten the All Blacks as a group and hardened their resolve.

That showed up most visibly when Umaga fronted a packed press conference a few days before the second test in the capital on July 2.

The All Black squad followed Umaga into the room and stood around and behind him in silent but eloquent support as he explained his version of the incident.

McCaw said if the furore remains undiminished, it might work to the All Blacks' advantage in Britain.

"It could be. It definitely had that effect last time. We know as a team we don't go out to do stuff like that, whatever the hype that goes with it. If all that stuff brings us closer together, well and good."

McCaw remembers his test debut against Ireland, in the 40-29 win at Lansdowne Road in November 2001 for being a tough week. He was expecting nothing different of their next encounter.

The tip is McCaw will captain the All Blacks against Ireland with Umaga having the test off. There was a time an All Black captain never sat out a test. Times have changed, and this might be one of those occasions.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry echoed the view that it was time to "move on". He mentioned it three times yesterday in quick order and it's a safe bet he'll be saying the phrase in his sleep once the squad arrive in Britain.

He believes his players have no interest in the renewed focus on the incident, partly because there is nothing new to be said or heard on it.

"It's not something fresh today. It's something [O'Driscoll's book] that was printed some time ago. Tana and Keven didn't mean to hurt the guy, but that's what happens in rugby from time to time," he said.

Henry said his players will concentrate on "playing rugby to the best of their ability, and not this issue".

"We've got some sympathy for Brian O'Driscoll. He's a fine player. It was disappointing it happened. We can't say any more."

But one of the fringe test candidates, Ma'a Nonu perhaps put what lies ahead for the All Blacks best yesterday.

"I guess when we get there we've got to see what happens. We'll have to watch our backs," he said.

The backdrop

* Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll is lifted and dumped heavily in a tackle inside the first minute of the opening test in Christchurch on June 28 by All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu.
* His shoulder is dislocated and O'Driscoll is ruled out of the tour.
* The Lions management present video evidence alleging wrongdoing by the All Black pair but the international match commissioner, South African Willem Venter, decides no citing is required.
* This week, O'Driscoll's book is serialised in a British newspaper, fanning the flames on the eve of the All Blacks arriving in Britain and Ireland for their four-test trip this weekend.
* A fan's videotape of the incident, previously unseen and from a new angle, is presented to the International Rugby Board, who condemn the tackle as "totally unacceptable" but maintain no retrospective action will be taken against the All Blacks.

* * *

Dallaglio realistic about beating

Lawrence Dallaglio has called for members of the beaten Lions squad to face up to their 3-0 series defeat in New Zealand earlier this year.

"Clearly, we were outplayed, out-thought and ultimately beaten 3-0, and that says it all.

"The criticism seems to be pointing in a lot of different directions, but as a player you have to be better than your opposite number, and from 1-15 we weren't," Dallaglio said.