Jonah Lomu

Jonah Tali Lomu , born the May 12th 1975 with Auckland, is a former player of Rugby to XV New Zealand. He played station of winger (after having begun 3rd line) and measures 1,95 m for 119 kg (weight of form). Following the example Tanned Umaga, it started with the Rugby with XIII, then it integrated the team of New Zealand, the All Blacks starting from 1994. It grows with South Auckland then went to the Wesley College (Auckland). He is generally regarded as the first truth star of the Rugby to XV, one of the players more intimidating on the ground and had a great impact on his sport .

Jonah Lomu burst on the international scene of Rugby at the time of the world cup of Rugby of 1995 in South Africa. As from this moment, Lomu was regarded as one of large the stars and each one of its appearances was awaited by all the observers and supporters. He will have played for seven teams in the National Provincial Championship and the Super Rugby of which Auckland Blues, Waikato Chiefs or later the Wellington Lions or Hurricanes. With AlBlackss, he is the youngest player to carry the shirt and the player having marked the greatest number of tests in world cup. After an operation of transplantation of a kidney in 2003, it tests a return to the competition successfully, since it will again be selected in the national team, mythical the All Blacks.

Physical characteristics

The physique of Jonah Lomu is cut for Rugby since it is large, fast and strapping man. To that of other qualities are added like aggressiveness, the talent and its presence intimidating on the ground. It measures 1,95 meter and its weight of form is of 119 kilograms, which forever prevented it with best of its form from running the 100 meters in less than 11 seconds. That was worth the nickname of " to him; the autobus" .

Biography

Youth

At the school, its drive with the sprint included/understood the race around the ground then to draw a roller with a cord attached around its size. Jonah played in Rugby with XIII until the 14 years age before being dealt with Wesley (pulled by Chris Grinter) which enabled him to take its first steps in Rugby with XV. Very quickly selected in the regional teams, it joined Counties Manukau and regularly has to dispute the matches of the team of New Zealand of less than 17 years in 1991 then of the team of school New Zealand in 1992.

Its first steps

In 1993, Jonah Lomu is called in selection of less than 19 years then less than 21 years the following year, finally at 19 years and 45 days he becomes the youngest player to endorse the shirt of AlBlackss during a match-test against the Équipe of France to Lancaster Park with Christchurch, match which the AlBlackss will lose 22-8 and where the performance of Lomu was average. He will also dispute a second match against the same adversary one week later with Eden Park with Auckland (French victory 23-20).

World cup 1995

In spite of its two selections in national team, Jonah Lomu is retained for the event. It surprises all the observers and becomes a true phenomenon by marking seven tests in five matches including four in semi-final played against the Équipe of England. For its first match of the world cup, the AlBlackss are opposed to the Ireland where it registers two tests for a crushing victory 43-19. The second match, disputed against the Wales, it was replaced during the match and does not register any test but the team of New Zealand asserts 34 to 9. For the last hen match opposed to the Japan, it will be put at rest since the AlBlackss were already qualified. In quarterfinals, its team is vis-a-vis the Scotland, it registered there a test for a final victory 48-30 with the Loftus Stadium. But it will be its match vis-a-vis in England in semi-final which will remain in the memories with four tests and a victory 45-29, it receives praises of all shares in the comments of after-match and Rugby discovers its first genuine star. After this match epic against England, New Zealand leaves favorite against the South Africa, but despite everything the efforts of Lomu, it could not register only one test and will see Springbocks being essential 15-12 in the prolongations on a marked drop.

1996-1998

In its first match after the World cup lost vis-a-vis in South Africa, All Blacks are opposed to Australia with Eden Park, Jonah registered there three tests and makes it possible its team to carry it 28-16. They will confirm a little later this success in Australia 34-23 with a new test of Jonah Lomu. It continues to carry out great performances against the Italy and France while registering there with each resumption of the tests.

In 1996, a new competition was installation joining together the three great nations of Rugby of the southern hemisphere of which All Blacks: the Tri-Nations. The AlBlackss confirm their supremacy by gaining to them four matches (two vis-a-vis South Africa and the two others vis-a-vis in Australia) of which a correction made with the Wallabies 43-6 in Wellington with a test of Lomu.

But with the end of the year, one diagnoses a renal problem to him which will hold it far away from the grounds, the time of his care practically lasting all the year 1997. It will join AlBlackss with the any end of the year (it did not take part in the Tri Nations 1997 gained by its fellow-members) for friendly matches against Wales and against the additional team of England; as well as matches tests in northern hemisphere (two against England and against Wales during which it does not register any test).

Beginning 1998, it gains the gold medal the proof Rugby to seven with the Plays of the Commonwealth to Kuala Lumpur then is retained with the selection of AlBlackss to dispute matches tests. Lastly, the tournament of the Tri Nations does not constitute a priority for the selection which will lose its four matches and will finish last this year.

1999 and World cup

The season 1999 is prepared with an aim which the selection is ready for the next World cup which constitutes its main objective. After a victory with the Tri Nations of which one 28-0 inflicted in South Africa, the end of the tournament clarifies the weaknesses of the team of at the time of the defeat against Australia 7-28, Lomu during these matches begins in general on the sides but without real success (no test registered in four matches).

But when the competition began, the AlBlackss are the big favorites and Jonah Lomu is awaited by all. In its first match, it registers 2 tests vis-a-vis the Tonga then against England it marks one of the most beautiful tests of the competition and finally against Italy it registers two new tests. New Zealand finishes first of its group and faces Scotland in quarterfinals which they will beat 30-18 with a new test of Lomu. In semi-final they are opposed to France and in spite of two tests of Jonah Lomu, they are inclined 43-31. It will have registered 8 tests becoming with the 7 tests of 1995 the best marker of tests of all times out of world cup (15 tests on the whole). After the World cup, there are many speculations around Jonah Lomu so that it joins NFL or the championship of England (Saracens and Worcester had made an offer), but finally it decided to remain in New Zealand.

2000-2003

The first matches with the selection in this year 2000 proceed perfectly, but in the tournament of the tri Nations in spite of two victories, it is demolished twice and finished second. Lomu registered there only one test in the first match allowing his to carry it on Australia. It also disputed matches tests at the end of the year of which a match with the Stade de France against France, gained 39-26.

In 2001, it takes share with the victory of New Zealand in Rugby with 7 with the Cup Sevens, but later in Rugby with 15 him and All Blacks will again be demolished with the Tri Nations (with two victories and two defeats) where Lomu will register one test there, but meanwhile it takes part in the victories in matches tests against Argentina, France, Ireland and Scotland.

In 2002, it will take part only in one match of the Tri Nations against South Africa and is more and more often found on the bench in spite of good performances.

Health issues

With the end of the year 1996, one diagnoses in Jonah Lomu a nephrotic Syndrome (renal anomaly), by consequence it had to move away from the grounds the time of convalescence before a return at the end of the year 1997. In May 2003, the New Zealand Federation announces that Lomu is put in Dialyze three times per week because of the deterioration of its renal functions. The consequences of this treatment are harmful for the continuation of its career, and the doctors warn it which if transplantation does not function, it may be that it remains in wheelchair.

Jonah Lomu undergoes, at the end of the month of July 2004, a successful transplantation with Auckland and decides in June 2005 to take again the drive.

Career

In club

In NPC :

1994 - 1999: Counties Manukau
2000 : Wellington

In Super 12 :

1996 :
1998 :
1999:
1999 - 2003:

In Celtic League :

2006 :

Prize list

In Club

In national team

63 selections with Blacks between 1994 and 2002
37 tests
Many selections per year: 2 in 1994, 10 in 1995, 5 in 1996, 3 in 1997, 7 in 1998, 11 in 1999, 8 in 2000, 9 in 2001, 8 in 2002
Participation in the World cup of Rugby: 1995 (5 disputed matches, 5 like holder), 1999 (6 disputed matches, 6 like holder)

Finalist: 1995 Victorious

of the Tri-Nations: 1996, 1999

Others

It gave its name to a video game left on PlayStation and Saturn, entitled Jonah Lomu Rugby .
During the World cup 2007, it is consulting for the magazine Rugby Hebdo . It in particular wrote there, for a possible confrontation between France and New Zealand in quarterfinal: “France/New Zealand, it is a final”.

See too

External bonds

Official site of Jonah Lomu
Card AlBlacks

Random links: