01 JONAH SPLATS MIKE CATT
It’s unlikely that anyone other than Mike Catt will tire of seeing the footage of him being trampled by a rampant Jonah Lomu in 1995.
Here we are 22 years on and it has lost none of its impact. In fact it has probably gained in poignancy since the sad passing of Lomu in 2015.
It is an amazing 10-15 seconds of rugby where each time it is replayed, it sends a little shiver down the spine. It’s incredible, because even knowing what’s coming – even after a 1000 views or more – it is still hard to comprehend that it actually happened.
For those who don’t know – and there can only be about three Kiwis on the planet to whom this applies – what happens is that All Blacks wing Lomu provides the greatest display of explosive running power ever seen.
The All Blacks, after four minutes of their 1995 World Cup semifinal against England, shift the ball wide to the left.
It’s not a flowing motion and the passes aren’t great but the ball gets to the wing, although Lomu has to scramble to gather after it arrived via a bouncing bomb of a pass.
No matter – he has it and swats o the first English defender almost as he’s taking possession. When he retains his upright stance, he blasts past another, before Will Carling launches himself at Lomu only to bounce o .
That Carling tackle did wobble Lomu and he started to stumble as he ran... one step... two steps... three steps... but no he doesn’t fall.
As he just about regains his balance he drops his shoulder into Catt, the English fullback. Wham, Catt is sent reeling and Lomu continues to run right over the top of him to score in the corner.
Catt is left lying there like road kill and the legend of Lomu is born.