A bright future is predicted for All Black wing Jonah Lomu _ and the South Africans will have a tough time stopping him
RUGBY: Barney Spender
`THEY’VE picked who? Joe. Joe who? Nolomu? Never heard of him. What? Oh, sorry, Joan. (Cough, splutter) Joan? Joan Olomu? You mean the All Blacks have picked a female on the wing? Gee I knew that the Kiwis were at the forefront of most revolutionary changes in rugby but isn’t this taking it a step far? Sorry? Oh, not Joe, not Joan, but … Jonah. As in the whale? Jonah who? Oh, Jonah Lomu, of course, well jeepers, Geronimo, good heavens, why didn’t you say so? …. still never heard of him.”
Telephone conversations can be unsettling at times and this was one of those occasions. Who was this Jonah Lomu?
To those of us who were not acquainted with New Zealand’s progress in the Hong Kong sevens he was simply a name _ an awkward name, I regret to admit (was it Lomu or Lumo?)
But to those who had been in Hong Kong this was a man for whom a big future had been predicted.
In short, Jonah Lomu, who made his All Black debut on the left wing against France in the recent series is the latest of the big men to hit the international rugby arena. Or should it be big boys for although Lomu stands at 1,96m tall and weighs in at 118kg _ it was 114kg two weeks ago _ he is only just out of school. And at 19 years and 45 days he became the youngest All Black of all time.
His debut was disappointing not so much for his own personal performance, which consisted of a couple of strong runs, and not much else, but the overall tenor of the team which saw the Kiwis thumped 22-8. Still, there is no doubt that Lomu, despite just five first-class games before his test call-up, is a star of the future.
Ross Cooper, the coach at his provincial side Counties, is under no illusions as to the talent which has stepped on to the international stage.
“Never in all my rugby coaching career have I seen such a natural talent. Jonah Lomu, with his weight, his skills, his handling and his build is unbelievable.”
He is certainly a prodigy and if, as some of the local cynics suggest, he only owes his place in the All Black side to the selectors’ not wanting him to turn to rugby league, his track record deserves attention.
A Tongan by birth, Lomu has representative honours aplenty. He played for Counties Under 16s and then for Counties Secondary Schools. In 1992 and 1993 a place in the New Zealand Secondary Schools was his for the asking _ although all this was as a back row forward.
Then came the bugle call from the national selectors and a place in the New Zealand Sevens side. The 1994 All Black trials and his debut against the French were a natural extension of the education.
Still, playing against the South Africans on a windy afternoon in Wellington is a long way removed from taking on Hutt Valley 3rd XV in a 10 minute each way friendly at the local pub ground, and his opposite number in the green and gold, James Small, has already begun his homework.
“He’s a big boy; but I wasn’t that impressed with him against the French, although he’s still a hell of a player to face. He looks incredible with the ball in his hands, his attacking skills are very good _ but test rugby demands a lot more than that,” said Small.
“If he’s on the attack I’ll leave him for my centres … no I’m serious, with a guy like that it’s virtually impossible to stop him on your own if he runs straight at you. And if the other guys know that you’ve got him on you then they help out and Pieter Muller is probably the best defensive centre around.
“The other thing you’ve got to remember is that if you’re six and a half feet from the ground then you are also six and a half feet from the ball and that can be a problem for him.”
Small has an excellent point. When the French forced him to turn and chase the ball, Lomu’s bulk took on the shape of an oil tanker _ quick when going forward but taking about a mile and a half to slow down and turn. And that rule applies to a fellow who runs the 100m in just over 10 seconds.
Cooper is loyal to his student and while admitting that Lomu will probably end up as a back row forward, he does not underestimate his possible influence on the game.
“He is a Tongan and he’s very, very young so he needs support. But if he’s handled right and gets his confidence up he can be a superstar.”
Make no mistake, Lomu, unless he turns to league, is here to stay. He is a rugby player of strength, class and vision. If he doesn’t make his name in the series against the French or the South Africans, he will surely be a star in next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Failing that there is always the 1999 World Cup when Lomu will be all of 24.
South Africa take note.