Jonah Lomu: Fierce on the pitch, gentle giant off it

Jonah Lomu

It was like waking up to the impact of a massive boulder, when I read this morning about the untimely departure of Jonah Lomu. The gentle giant was a colossal gladiator, the force that carried rugby to a global audience with an impossible brilliance.

The vacuum is difficult to grasp; Lomu is no more, befallen by an errant kidney.It was the early days of post-apartheid South Africa when a rampant young man stormed his way into the hearts of mystified fans. Even the most seasoned rugby fans dropped their jaw at the bewildering skill and speed of Lomu.

It was only a year after he became the youngest ever All Black when he represented New Zealand as a 19-year-old in a team of burly men. Lomu wasted no time in making his presence felt within the fiercely proud All Black community with some power packed performances.

Amidst the romance of a world cup that belonged to South Africa all the way, Lomu engraved himself into an epic narrative with a series of forceful performances. The image of Lomu running around a hapless Will Carling for the opening try was an unforgettable moment.

The young man etched himself into the hearts of fans with his remorseless pounding of Mike Catt through the rest of that game to score four tries in an epic performance. Lomu’s impactful efforts at the world cups in 1995 and 1999 returned the All Blacks fifteen tries.

More importantly, Lomu’s mind numbing efforts helped rugby earn a much-needed leg up at a time when it desperately needed to win back an audience. "Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world," acknowledged Steve Tew, the

CEO of New Zealand Rugby. "We're lost for words. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah's family."

At six foot five, Lomu was a giant among even in a world of brawny men. At the height of his powers, Lomu could power his massive 120kg frame over a 100m stretch in less than 11 seconds. That was a heady combination of power and speed that was hard to resist for most of his stunned opponents.

Lomu was a victim of nephrotic syndrome, a disease that damaged his kidneys very early in his career. The determined winger made a comeback effort after a transplant in 2004, but never quite managed to make a mark. His playing career ended in 2006, but the greatest memories for Lomu came in those two world cups in 1995 and 1999.

The great man learnt in 2012 that his transplanted kidney had run its time. He knew that his time on the planet was limited. "I was hoping that it would get better but it never did," he said. "But, you know, I would never change anything."

After what he did for rugby through his brilliance, not much needed changing anyways. Rest in peace Lomu. You shall continue to live in the hearts of fans across the globe.