NOW LIONS MUST STOP THE BUS!
Superstar Savea waits in wings to ambush tourists
STOP ‘The Bus’. That is the challenge facing the Lions today as Julian Savea tries to live up his billing as the new Jonah Lomu.
The nickname reflects the imposing physicality which has made the 26-year- old from Wellington a giant, destructive wing in the Lomu mould. If he can’t go around defenders, he runs over them.
Few teams have managed to contain him since a hat-trick on debut against Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland.
When he scored at the same venue against Samoa recently, it took his tally to 46 tries in 53 Tests. But then came an almighty shock as Savea was dropped from New Zealand’s 23 for the first Test.
Rieko Ioane took his chance but Ben Smith’s concussion means there is a back-three reshuffle in the offing.
Savea was freed to play for the Hurricanes in today’s tour match against the Lions at ‘The Cake Tin’ — Wellington’s Regional Stadium — and is on a mission. In the near future, when he reclaims his Test spot, he will surely become New Zealand’s alltime top try-scorer. He is also on course to pass the worldrecord 69 set by Japan’s Daisuke Ohata.
But the comparisons have always been with Lomu. In 2010, a report on New Zealand Under 20s after a crushing win over Tonga noted: ‘Savea scored four tries and his style has a Jonah Lomu look about it.’ Such hype was both a compliment and a burden.
‘It’s always an honour to be compared to one of the greats,’ the 6ft 4in Savea told
Sportsmail. ‘It’s special but I can never compare myself. There was only one Jonah.
‘I felt pressure when people started saying that but it was good pressure. I wanted to be that Jonah Lomu-kind of player. I got used to the pressure. It was cool.’
Lomu died aged just 40 in November, 2015 — only weeks after Savea equalled his record of eight tries in a World Cup campaign as the All Blacks defended their title in London. The apprentice had enjoyed his occasional meetings with the master, saying: ‘He was a gentle giant, down to earth and easy to talk to. ’
Growing up, Savea — who is of Samoan descent — towered over his peers in schools and junior rugby. He scored tries for fun and other parents needed convincing that he was in the right year-group.
‘My mum carried my passport because people didn’t believe my age,’ he said.
He was 15 the last time the Lions were in New Zealand. Julian and brother Ardie, the other Savea in the current All Blacks squad, went to ‘The Cake Tin’ to see Dan Carter lead the tourists a merry dance. ‘DC really ripped it up in Wellington,’ he said.
Soon after, the teenager started making waves, first in the national sevens team — following Lomu’s path, before becoming a fixture with the Hurricanes and an unstoppable All Black, since his debut almost five years ago.
His game has evolved. These days, there is some subtlety and finesse to go with the powerful running.
‘You can’t rely on that. You have to find that next level — to be unpredictable,’ said Savea. ‘I’ve found extra things to work on and get better at.’
Away from rugby, Savea married Fatima, his Iraq-born Muslim wife, after working hard to win round her father. He said: ‘They were not very accepting of the relationship at first but we fought hard for what we wanted.’
When he faces the Lions today, the tourists may like to know that he does have one big weakness. ‘If I could eat anything, it would be Krispy Kreme doughnuts,’ he said. Maybe Warren Gatland should have sent a few dozen to his room. It might be the only way to stop The Bus.