All Black, All Samoan

After a shaky start as skipper last year, Tana Umaga has answered the critics calling for his retirement by leading the All Blacks to a series win over the British and Irish Lions, the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations trophy.

Tana Umaga clears the ball during training. Photo: AP WideWorld Photos

He will now lead the All Blacks on their end of year "Grand Slam" tour of the United Kingdom. A clean sweep over England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland would not only cap off an unprecedented year for New Zealand rugby but perhaps seal Umaga's place as one of the great All Black captains.

Twelve months ago it was a different story. New Zealand had just finished last in the 2004 Tri Nations behind South Africa and Australia, and Umaga's head appeared to be on the chopping block.

But All Black coach Graham Henry had faith in Umaga and picked him to captain the team on the 2004 end of year tour of Europe. It was a successful tour with wins over Wales, France and the Barbarians. He was in superb form during the Super 12 clocking up his 100th game for the Hurricanes in the process. And that led to his unanimous selection for the international season as leader of the All Blacks.

Umaga, 31, admits he still enjoys playing the game, and is not ready to quit.

"You get old, that's just the way it is and you can't beat Father Time. Everyone's waiting for me to go," he laughs. "I still enjoy playing, and at the highest level. I'm a competitor. I don't know if I could go back and play club rugby or pack it in altogether right now."

To his family back in Samoa, Umaga is a hero. His Samoan heritage is traced back to the villages of Leulumoega Tuai, Upolu through his father Falefasa, and Sagone, Savaii by his mother, Tauesa.

Fa'amafu Umaga, Tana Umaga's cousin, says his family in Leulumoega feel honored to have one of their own leading the All Blacks.

"We support Tana and are very proud of him," says Fa'amafu. "When he plays either for Wellington or for the All Blacks, all our family members drop what they are doing and gather around the television set to watch his game. We never miss his games."

It's a scene that is repeated across Samoa.

Umaga last visited Samoa in 2002, basing himself at Leulumoega Tuai, which is close to Faleolo Airport on the main road to Apia. Fa'amafu remembers Umaga attending church just down the road and the curious young children of the village following behind him, pointing and muttering anong themselves, occasionally breaking out in laughter.

Umaga says that when it is time to hang up his boots, he will do so on his own terms. "That's the kind of person I am-I like having the last word."

That's good news for the legion of fans that have warmed to Umaga's appointment last year as All Black captain. He became an overnight hero for young Pacific Islanders in New Zealand, along with his fans in Samoa. Many greeted his appointment as acknowledgement of the changing cultural makeup of New Zealand and the hefty contribution made by the Pacific Islands towards New Zealand rugby.

Umaga says he has unfinished business and wants to be in France for the World Cup in 2007.

"I've really only played in one World Cup in 1999 and half a game in the 2003 Cup," he says.

In an interesting twist, Umaga came very close to committing to the Manu Samoa instead of the All Blacks. Fa'amafu claims Umaga and his older brother Mike had made a pact back in the 1990s when Mike was a Manu Samoa international. It was Mike who reportedly encouraged Umaga to chase his All Black dream rather than follow in Mike's footsteps.

In the future, should the International Rugby Board change its eligibility rules, the Samoa Rugby Union would no doubt welcome Tana Umaga if he chose to leave New Zealand rugby for the bigger money in Europe or Japan and effectively end his All Black career.