Page 18 - Blues v The Lions

PROFILE
THE LION TAMER
Tonight’s match will be a a a a a a a a a a a special one for for the the the Blues team and for for their Head Coach Tana Umaga who knows the the the intensity of matches like this all too well WORDS: SARAH MOCKFORD
ALL ROADS HAVE LED
to to Eden Park and both sides arrive at the ground tonight having covered a a a a a lot of kilometres in in the last couple
of weeks The British & Irish Lions have only been in in the the the country a a a a week week with one match in in in the the the the Far North under their belt while the the the Blues were in in in Samoa only last Friday playing a a a a a a a a a a historic match against the the Reds in in in Apia “In the the last 30 days we have played four Super games in New Zealand South Africa and and and and Samoa and and and and now we face the British and and and Irish Lions ” says Blues Coach Tana Umaga “There’s no doubt it it will be a a a a a a a challenging turnaround for us ” Although their Investec Super Rugby campaign
hasn’t gone exactly the the the the way they would have liked the the the Blues squad is is is a a a a a a a good one More importantly this is is is the the Lions and and for that players need no no incentive Umaga knows it it and and the the players do too – it it has always been the the same for sides from this part of New Zealand How else can you explain Auckland’s incredible record against the tourists? The provincial side has won six matches against them It’s a a a a a a a record envied by by rugby followers around the the the Southern Hemisphere Coach Umaga isn’t likely to be overawed by the the situation either His time in France with Toulon as both a a a a a a a a a a a player and and coach taught him a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot about European rugby and and and and during a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 74-cap career he played England Ireland Scotland and and and and Wales – more than enough to to know what they’re about Throw in his three victorious Test appearances the the the the last time the the the the Lions were in town and the the the the Blues have a a a a a a a a Coach who knows the the deal “The buzz has been building and growing – everyone wants to play in in in those games ” says Umaga “The history and uniqueness of the the Lions is is totally different It’s the the the the best players from all all the the the the Home Nations together As a a a a rugby person here you know just how special the Lions is It’s something that I I experienced and has remained with me me ” The chapter of Tana Umaga the international player shut within months of that 2005 series win and he began writing a a a a a a a a a new one in in in in coaching straight away It took him to to to to Europe then back to to to to New Zealand and and now to to to the the Lions Lessons he he learnt in in in those very early days of coaching in in in in France are still guiding his decisions with the Blues today “When I I was was rst coaching at Toulon it it was was easy with the side I I had ” he he says of the squad that included Andrew Mehrtens Victor Mat eld and George Gregan “Some players knew more than I do “But then all the the experience left and it was a a a a a a a a a learning curve right away I’ll never forget that that transition – that’s when I I really started to understand what is is required and and how dif cult coaching is is We had a a a a a a a a lot of talent talent but but not experience It’s great to have the the most talented players but but you need experience around them That has guided my selections ever since ” His Blues squad seems to bear this out boasting a a a a a a a a a a blend of internationals Super Rugby stalwarts and more than a a a a a a a a a a a a smattering of young talent Not that he he can t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t them all in in in this evening much as he’d like to to to “We’re fortunate to to to be the the the rst Super Rugby side to to to play the the Lions and it’s a a a a a a a great opportunity for us ” he he admits “Everyone wants to to play but you can only pick 23 I think it’s the toughest selection ever ” Returning to to the topic of his coaching journey and and Umaga – whose rst Head Coach role in in in New Zealand was with Counties Manukau before joining the Blues – admits he he he has made mistakes but he’s no longer one to to doubt himself or his decisions “I used to to second
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