How to stop the ‘Big Black Bus’? Force him into touch

IN THE 1995 World Cup final, the Springboks were up against the most devastating attacking player in the game, Jonah Lomu, and they knew they had to stop him in his tracks if they were to have any chance of winning the tournament. They did that, and the Boks beat the All Blacks in what will be regarded as one of the greatest achievements by a South African rugby team.

Now, they face a similar opponent in Julian Savea, nicknamed the “Big Black Bus” in today’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in London.

Like Lomu, Savea wears the No 11 on his back and is just as imposing. He stands 1.93m tall and tips the scales at 112kg, a huge man who has pace and power – and the Boks will know they can’t afford to give the Kiwi try- machine any space at Twickenham if they’re to have a chance of upsetting the defending champions and advancing to the final next week.

While veteran Bok wing JP Pietersen will be Savea’s direct opponent, it will be up to the whole Bok team to chase down the “Bus” if they’re to succeed in preventing him from doing to them what he did against France seven days ago – and that was to run in three tries in a stunning display of wing play.

Savea is indeed a machine. He’s scored 38 Test tries from just 39 matches, and with eight is the leading try-scorer at the tournament – three better than his closest rivals, who include Bryan Habana. In fact, both are chasing records today – one more five-pointer by Savea will see him pass Lomu and Habana for the most tries at a single tournament, while the Bok flyer is one try short of going past Lomu (15) as the leading try-scorer in World Cup rugby.

Former Bok wing – and a man who scared a good few opponents in his time with his powerful running – Ray Mordt, says Savea must be up there with the best wings to have played the game. “He’s got pace and power, just like Lomu, but his work- rate is better than Lomu’s,” Mordt said.

“He’s the complete player ... he’s right up there, if he’s not the best already.

“But JP is also a big guy and a great defender. The key for JP, or whoever marks Savea, will be to force him off the touchline. The Boks cannot allow him to get on their outside ... they’ve got to get on his outside and force him to move in- field where the defence will come across and cut him down. It’s what James Small did with Lomu and it worked ... and it’s what the Boks must do with Savea.

“The Boks’ defence has been very good so far and I’m sure they’ll be good again against the All Blacks.”