Mealamu happy to step into front line

The other party to that slam-dunk is facing the music with equanimity, writes Keith Duggan

Until this week, Keven Mealamu was the forgotten man in the tackle that scandalised the Lions tour of New Zealand. For convenience sake, the blame for the unceremonious dumping of Brian O'Driscoll just seconds into the first Test was focused mainly on the All Blacks' iconic captain, Tana Umaga.

But the decision of Graham Henry and the All Blacks' touring selectors to name an entirely fresh 15 for Saturday's eagerly awaited Test in Lansdowne Road has changed all that.

O'Driscoll is still recuperating from shoulder surgery and the demands of the celebrity-author lifestyle. Umaga is being rested and travels to the Donegal interior this afternoon to honour the memory of Ramelton native Dave Gallaher, captain of the 1905 New Zealand Originals.

Which means that of the three players involved in the most heavily scrutinised two seconds in rugby union history, only Mealamu will take the field on Saturday.

The modestly spoken Auckland hooker is aware he may come in for a lusty reception at the old ground, but it is not a scenario he would change.

"I suppose I have been sort of thinking about it," he admitted with a smile yesterday evening. "And I am prepared for whatever. Like I said, once you are in the game everything else gets blocked out. You might hear a little bit when the final whistle goes, but not during the game. Once you are on the field and playing the game, that's the only thing that's on your mind for 80 minutes.

"I'm actually looking forward to it. Because it's a privilege to put on the black jersey and you might as well savour every moment that you have in it."

It speaks volumes for New Zealand's calm and professional attitude toward an incident that provoked such anger and indignation here that Mealamu was presented for questioning. As Henry emphasised, the visitors believe there is nothing they can add to previously voiced contrition.

Still, it would have been easy for them to have Mealamu go absent for the afternoon. Instead, he found himself surrounded, all alone, in a large, plush lounge by a press posse considerably beefier than himself.

Standing in denims, flip-flops and an All Blacks training shirt, Mealamu was disarmingly polite and charming through the inquisition, and he says he has been pleased by the reception he has had in Ireland.

"Yeah, it's been good, thanks. The people have been really nice and we're staying at a nice place, so it has been good. There have been no bad comments. Not yet anyway. But, eh, so many of our boys all look the same so . . ." - his soft, handsome, Samoan features break into a grin.

The rights and wrongs of the O'Driscoll incident have not, he says, caused him many sleepless nights. He did approach the Irish man just after the third Lions Test, but recalls that what passed between them "was not really a conversation - I just apologised and that was really it."

He said that if the opportunity arose to meet O'Driscoll this weekend, he will happily take it. His main focus is, however, on the 15 Irishmen wearing green this Saturday.

The decision as to who will lead the haka will be taken later this week, and Mealamu's eyes light up at the prospect it might be he.

"Never done it. And I would love to step up. It would be a privilege. To lead the All Blacks for the haka. I mean, that's every Kiwi's dream."

Although he has 30 Tests behind him, this is Mealamu's first experience of Lansdowne Road. Other players have been thrilling him with tales of its wild and thunderous atmosphere, and he is expecting a vintage, raw and windy afternoon in Dublin.

"Every game is different. Ireland are a completely different side from Wales. I expect the way they come out against us will be different. And Ireland are a proud side. I don't think they will be lying down, especially at home. They will bring the whole kitchen," he laughs.

If the Irish team and crowd elect to throw it at New Zealand's number two, then so be it. He won't be fazed, and he has not looked back at that tackle we can't forget.

"What's done is done," he says quietly.

"And the rest is history."