JONAH’S MATES RALLY TO GET HIM SELECTED

Back when Jonah Lomu was starting out there was no Super Rugby so his path to All Blacks legendary status took a different route.

Jonah had impressed at the Hong Kong Sevens tournament in 1994 which prompted All Blacks coach Laurie Mains to select him on the left wing for the mid-year series against France.

At just 19, that made him one of the youngest All Blacks ever. But he had never played on the wing before and his fitness was poor - later revealed to be part of his undiagnosed kidney condition.

So at the start of 1995 the All Blacks had a training camp and Lomu was invited but failed to impress because he was so unfit. The coaches didn't think he was up to it but a few senior players said they would mentor Lomu and help get him fit.

So they worked him and worked him, his good friend and fellow wing Eric Rush doing the most. Ironically when Rush was injured, Lomu's selection was secured.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup went on to become Lomu's cup. His try in the semi-final is the one that went global after he evaded two England defenders and literally ran over the hapless Mike Catt.

Lomu went on to become the first global rugby superstar and sealing his place in rugby history forever. And to think in February 1995, he wasn't even going to be picked.