From today's Times, by Stephen Jones
Umaga 'out of credit'
All Black Captain Tana Umaga has redeemed himself from a week of
controversy by phoning crocked Lions rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll to
apologise for the 'spear tackle' that ended his tour, and revealed to
O'Driscoll he would have called sooner but his mobile was 'out of
credit'.
Umaga said he was 'real sorry' about O'Driscoll's injury, but reminded
his opposite that rugby was a contact sport and that accidents happen,
and if he didn't like it he shouldn't go trying to get the ball when the
All Blacks want it.
O'Driscoll expressed his forgiveness to Umaga, explaining he thought the
game was supposed to be played under touch rugby rules. He said it was
'swell' of Umaga to call.
The apology has started a flood of similar calls between former rugby
foes. Rua Tipoki of NZ Maori has revealed his relief at receiving a call
from Lion Gordon D'Arcy to apologise for the late spear tackle he
executed on the centre during the Lions match against NZ Maori earlier
in the month.
A tearful Tipoki said "Bro, it's about bl00dy time, eh. I've been sat
by the phone for weeks waiting for that neho to call. He could have
bl00dy killed me, the barstard!".
Maori coach Matt Te Pou said he had intended to take a tape of the
D'Arcy incident to the press after the Lions v Maori match to protest at
the incident, but chose not to "cos only a real f*ckin whinging loser
would do that sort of sh1t eh".
Wayne Shelford has confirmed a call from French Rugby Federation
officials, apologising for the impromptu removal of his left testicle by
the French forward pack in 1989. Johan Le Roux and Sean Fitzpatrick
were seen today holding hands in an Auckland park, the pair apparently
having made up for their differences from 1994 when Le Roux bit
Fitzpatrick's left ear.
Le Roux endorsed the new trend of apologising for every single physical
act in a game of rugby. The former Springbok prop said that bottling up
all that guilt over the years had made him feel all bad inside and it
was good to get it out and reveal his true feelings for Fitzpatrick, who
he described as his hero.
Danny Grewcock admitted he "had a bit of ringing round to do". Richard
Loe's phone has been engaged all day.
Umaga 'out of credit'
All Black Captain Tana Umaga has redeemed himself from a week of
controversy by phoning crocked Lions rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll to
apologise for the 'spear tackle' that ended his tour, and revealed to
O'Driscoll he would have called sooner but his mobile was 'out of
credit'.
Umaga said he was 'real sorry' about O'Driscoll's injury, but reminded
his opposite that rugby was a contact sport and that accidents happen,
and if he didn't like it he shouldn't go trying to get the ball when the
All Blacks want it.
O'Driscoll expressed his forgiveness to Umaga, explaining he thought the
game was supposed to be played under touch rugby rules. He said it was
'swell' of Umaga to call.
The apology has started a flood of similar calls between former rugby
foes. Rua Tipoki of NZ Maori has revealed his relief at receiving a call
from Lion Gordon D'Arcy to apologise for the late spear tackle he
executed on the centre during the Lions match against NZ Maori earlier
in the month.
A tearful Tipoki said "Bro, it's about bl00dy time, eh. I've been sat
by the phone for weeks waiting for that neho to call. He could have
bl00dy killed me, the barstard!".
Maori coach Matt Te Pou said he had intended to take a tape of the
D'Arcy incident to the press after the Lions v Maori match to protest at
the incident, but chose not to "cos only a real f*ckin whinging loser
would do that sort of sh1t eh".
Wayne Shelford has confirmed a call from French Rugby Federation
officials, apologising for the impromptu removal of his left testicle by
the French forward pack in 1989. Johan Le Roux and Sean Fitzpatrick
were seen today holding hands in an Auckland park, the pair apparently
having made up for their differences from 1994 when Le Roux bit
Fitzpatrick's left ear.
Le Roux endorsed the new trend of apologising for every single physical
act in a game of rugby. The former Springbok prop said that bottling up
all that guilt over the years had made him feel all bad inside and it
was good to get it out and reveal his true feelings for Fitzpatrick, who
he described as his hero.
Danny Grewcock admitted he "had a bit of ringing round to do". Richard
Loe's phone has been engaged all day.
