Riding a reputation
Lomu takes new coif and attitude into S. African game
Posted: Wednesday July 22, 1998 01:49 PM
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Lomu has had a tough time coming back from a kidney ailment that forced him out for almost all of last season Allsport |
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Jonah Lomu takes a new haircut, and a freshly etched No. 11 on his left eyebrow, into Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby union test against South Africa. But he admits he's lucky to make his 24th test appearance at Athletic Park, and that similar chances could start drying up soon unless he justifies his selection. Like the rest of the All Black fans, team coach John Hart hopes his big winger will regain his explosive 1995 World Cup form. Lomu has had a tough time coming back from a kidney ailment that forced him out for almost all of last season. But the high expectation for success and pressure mounting on Hart and his team, much of it perhaps unfair in a rebuilding season, could lead to harsher scrutiny by the All Black selection panel. "I felt sory for Joeli [Vidiri] because he wasn't given many opportunities to show what he's got," Lomu said Wednesday. His fellow Counties-Manukau and Auckland Blues winger Vidiri started in the Melbourne test against Australia two weeks ago and Lomu took over from him in the second half and completed the match. New Zealand lost 24-16. Lomu put an enthusiastic 20-odd minutes into the match after an anemic first half against England in the second test two weeks earlier. He was dumped for Vidiri then. "It was, I suppose, the nature of the game," said Lomu. "The guys just wanted to get it over and done with and look forward to the Tri-Nations." His selection for Saturday, however, still seems to be one based on reputation rather than form. "I've got to get out and give a complete performance," he said. "It's another opportunity given to me and I've got to do what I have to do - play 80 minutes of footy."
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