Tana Umaga Tribute Thread

[timothius]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3535694a10,00.html

All Blacks captain Tana Umaga this afternoon announced his retirement from test rugby.

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Tana took a long time to convince me he was All Black material, let a lone All Black captaincy material. I remember him making his debut in 1997 as Jonah Lomu's replacement and in my mind thats where he stayed for most of his career, a second string winger whose stay at centre was a lasting nod to the genius of John Hart.

Until this season. Umaga this season has moved his game to that of the greatest centre in the modern era ahead of Brian O'Driscoll who I rate amazingly highly and within millimetres of Walter Little. His captaincy has been sterling, leading us with conviction and intellegence not seen since Sir Sean Fitzpatrick ( ).

What has made all of Tana's achivements so incredible is that he is from Wellington. Despite this set back, he has become one of the most respected men in Union.

Thanks Tana.

 

[guill]

Ah Tana...... he reminds me so much of this semi-final France-Kiwi in 1999

 

[Axver]

Tana was such a truly great captain, a true sportsman, and luckily enough, not born in Auckland! Auckland shouldn't even be considered part of New Zealand.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

I'm sorry but I really lost all respect for him after that dreadful O'Driscoll tackle.

Carry on appreciating though.

 

[timothius]

It was an honest mistake yertle. If you read the above article, you would see that an intentional illegal tackle by Tana would be extremely out of character.

Tana

 

[Party Boy]

Great rugby player but most if not all northern hemisphere rugby fans will remember him by is that tackle on O'Driscoll. Call it a mistake or whatever, its what sticks in the memory.

 

[timothius]

What sticks in my memory is 3-0.

 

[Axver]

What sticks in my memory is 3-0 plus a great tackle.

 

[babyman]

Tana Umaga....................just the name is enough..................
One of the greatest New Zealand's rugby player