Campbell takes dig at O'Driscoll over haka

Michael Campbell

Golfer Michael Campbell has chipped into the spear-tackle debate, saying Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll insulted the All Blacks with his response to the haka.

The All Blacks have dismissed speculation that the tackle by captain Tama Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu was retaliation because the Irishman picked up a blade of grass to accept the challenge.

But the US Open champion, who is Maori, said O'Driscoll's mistake was to throw the grass away.

Asked by Irish media at the European Open yesterday how the pre-match gesture would have been interpreted by the home team, Campbell replied: "Disrespectful. Absolutely. And I'm sure it was noted too by the All Blacks."

As for the claim that a local had told the Lions how best to respond to the haka, the New Zealander snorted: "That's bullshit."

So why else would O'Driscoll do what he did?

"Maybe he was trying to find the wind direction," joked Campbell.

He performed a neat sidestep over the challenge which left O'Driscoll injured, saying he didn't see the Irishman being speared.

"Was he? ... I thought he was just thrown in a certain direction. "