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Fri 20 Nov 2015 | 02:56
A look at Jonah Lomu's 15 brilliant Rugby World Cup Tries

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Comments

Jonah Lomu scored 15 sensational RWC tries, a record that was recently equalled by Bryan Habana, although he did it in three tournaments, not two. With respect to the Springbok winger, Lomu's tries were from another planet, as you can see in this great compilation.

You probably forgot that he scored one off the back of a scrum too!

Habana posted a fitting tribute to Lomu earlier in the week, saying the following:

"His on field fearlessness was matched by his off field humility. So sad to wake to the news of @JONAHTALILOMU's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. It was a privilege to have met you, to have been inspired by you and to watch you make the biggest impact we have ever seen on the game we love so dearly #GameChanger #GlobalSuperstar #RIPJonahLomu"

View more player tributes to the great Jonah Lomu here

Posted By: Grant Constable

6 Comments

  • stroudos
    3:00 PM 25/11/2015

    I had to chuckle around 1:55 - "can Lomu get past Michael Catt?" - I think after Catt got steamrollered by Lomu earlier in the game he probably wasn't that keen to try and stop him here.

    If I'm not very much mistaken, it looks like Catty's done the old try-to-make-it-look-like-you're-trying-to-tackle-without-ever-really-getting-too-close act.

    I imagine him under the posts while the conversion's being lined up, going "yeah, sorry boys, completely wrong-footed me, couldn't get near him; so annoying, I was going to crunch him that time".

  • stroudos
    2:49 PM 25/11/2015

    I just came across this video - Jonah Lomu and Joost Van Der Westhuizen, both shadows of their former selves but in very good spirits, sitting down with family and friends and having a good old chat, reminiscing on 1995.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdF2lXRFCwk
    If you can sit through this without "getting a bit of sun cream in your eye" then there is something seriously wrong with you.

  • joeythelemur
    2:18 PM 22/11/2015

    Great to see all those in one place. Having been at the SA vs USA match where Habana matched Lomu's record, there was something that bugged me a bit about it. Here are the opponents they each scored against:

    Lomu WC tries
    England 5
    France 2
    Scotland 2
    Ireland 2
    Italy 2
    Tonga 2

    Habana WC tries
    Samoa 6
    USA 5
    Argentina 2
    Scotland 1
    Namibia 1

    I realize that you play whatever opponent is in front of you, and I have a lot of respect for Habana as a person and a player, but it's amazing that Lomu scored nearly all of his against the top tier nations. RIP big guy.

  • drg
    12:50 AM 21/11/2015

    Because of the way the game has changed, I don't think we ever will get the same impact... The nearest thing to Lomu is Julian Savea and he is often well marked and well chaperoned. Professional backs today are bigger than some of the forwards back in Lomus era. Savea and other big boys (Tuilagi) etc will always be dangerous, but theoretically they'll never set the mark like Lomu did. In reality to get another Lomu in today's game, you'll need someone with the pace of Usain Bolt, weighing more than 150kgs if not more, and have more outrageous stepping feet than Quade Cooper... Or Rokocoko.. I personally don't see it happening without serious genetic engineering and copious amounts of hormones/steroids...

  • drg
    7:45 PM 20/11/2015

    At 3:38, was there a card to NZ which is why Lomu was playing at 8 for the scrum?

    Always amazes me at how short his International career really was. I had to check wikipedia and apparently he played for the AB's from 1994-2002.. I mean 8 years is a fair bit of time. But when you consider Nonu's 12 and McCaws 14... it seems quite short, I always wonder how much of a record he'd have set had he not had this kidney illness.. I mean Habana has played for SA for 11 years and only just matched Lomus record, I know it's different eras and perhaps it could be argued Lomu was in an extremely good team, his size and power was new to the rugby world surroundings etc.. but it still amazes me.

  • xenophile
    7:10 PM 20/11/2015

    Fantastic compilation. Thanks for sharing.

    Something that I noticed while watching those clips which surprised me and isn't often discussed when speaking of Lomu's accomplishments and abilities, is just how balanced a runner he was. Yes, he had electrifying pace, strength, and of course size, but he could also step and swerve with ease while at full pace to beat defenders. For a bloke his size, especially in that era was completely unheard of. Pure magic!

    Jonah, you left an indelible mark around the world and captured the minds and hearts of everyone that watched you on the pitch. Thank you.

    Rest in peace big fella.

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