All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu is expecting a hostile reception from the Lansdowne Road crowd when he runs out against Ireland on Saturday. Mealamu was involved in the controversial tackle which ended Brian O'Driscoll's Lions tour in the summer.
He has voiced regret about O'Driscoll's injury but is resigned to getting some abuse from the 40,000 crowd.
"I have been thinking about it but once you're in the game everything else gets blocked out," said Mealamu.
"I guess it will be loud, but all European stadiums are."
Mealamu says he has not been on the receiving end of any hostility since arriving in Dublin but accepts things may be different when he is clearly identifiable on the Lansdowne Road turf.
"It is going to be a little bit different but alright, I think."
Tana Umaga, who was also responsible for the tackle that left the Ireland captain with a dislocated shoulder in the summer, has been left out of the All Blacks squad for Saturday's game.
MMIX
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