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'Gentle Giant' New Zealand's big man just one of the boys
Posted: Friday October 29, 1999 11:52 PM
TWICKENHAM, England (CNN/SI) -- If cliches are cliches because they conveniently encapsulate meanings, then the term "Gentle Giant" is a phrase tailor-made for All Blacks winger, Jonah Lomu. At 6-feet-5, and 260 pounds, the "giant" part of the description speaks for itself, while an hour in his company ahead of this weekend's Rugby World Cup semi-final with France, confirmed the "gentle" part. For while on the field he's a one-man juggernaut, off the pitch he's as mild-mannered and unassuming as they come. "Rugby's just fun, mate," he told me at the team's headquarters in Surrey, England. "That's all I think of it. It's nothing about whether I'm bigger or stronger than the other guy. It's just a question of enjoying the challenge. That's what the players play it for." With six tries in this World Cup to add to the seven he scored in his startling debut back in 1995, the 24-year-old winger has certainly been having a lot of fun so far.
As the World Cup's leading try-scorer he's habitually run over the world's best defenders as if they weren't there. Though as he awaits the battle with France at the weekend, he's determined not to fall victim to complacency, remaining respectful despite the overwhelming odds in the All Blacks' favor. "To me the French are one of the greatest teams you'll ever play against," he said. "The style they play the game, it's very open rugby and they play with so much passion as well." Despite Gallic passion though, anything less than a victory for the All Blacks would be a major surprise. But you won't hear Jonah crowing about it, or playing the big time Charlie if its he who gets the winning tries. "He's just one of the boys," said New Zealand winger, Tana Umaga. "And he likes that. And if we did treat him other than just another teammate I think he'd be disappointed in us. Everyone here wants to be one of the boys, and to step outside that would just lessen something in the team." Terry Baddoo is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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