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What happened the first time George Gregan tried to tackle Jonah Lomu
Wallaby great George Gregan admitted he was dumbfounded the first time he tried to tackle the late, great Jonah Lomu.
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Gregan recalled the story for RugbyPass’ Offload podcast, where he praised Lomu for being an exceptional talent on the rugby field and a “beautiful human being” off of it.
The great All Black winger and Wallaby halfback squared off a number of times, Gregan’s first on field interaction with Lomu left a lasting impression.
“He was just a colossus, Jonah. I was really fortunate to play him, I played him at the peak of his powers, remember because he was on dialysis right from the get-go, so he was never better than 80 percent of his physical ability because of that. They managed that really well, all through his career.
“You still had big wingers, you had Inga Tuigamala, like Damian Smith was strong, I’m not comparing but he was a big, tall, six foot plus winger. The Islander boys are like super athletic, super fast but nothing like Jonah. Jonah played No 8 at schoolboys.
“I remember in that (semi)final, we kicked it off and they went split split and they went across and I’ve gone across to make a cover tackle, and it was a good tackle, I got under his fend, chopped his legs, squeeze – you know that whole thing, head’s in the right position, squeeze – I’m thinkning timber baby, he’s coming down.
“Honestly, I put a good shot on him, like bang, and squeeze, and then I’m holding onto this boot, it’s about a size 14 Adidas or whatever it is and then he’s just running down the field with one sock (out).
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“I’ve just got his boot and I’ve looked at that and I actually executed a really good tackle, who is this bloke?
“That was the first time I came across him and that’s when I realised, when he’s in full stride, you couldn’t go low on him. It was impossible becasue he was so big and strong through (his lower body) and his stride length… you just couldn’t get him together.”
Lomu is now remembered for being one of the most physically dominant players of all time, but Gregan admired the famous No 11’s full skillset.
“He could beat you in an in and out too, he had incredible speed. He could play in, play out, beat you with his big fend, he could obviously run over the top of you as many people discovered.
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“He didn’t have the big step, he was real swervy, he moved so beautifully for a big man, he was poetry in motion. But then also, he could just be a destructive wrecking ball.”
Gregan was asked what Lomu was like off the field, if they had shared a drink together after any games.
“Beautiful man, beautiful human being, he wouldn’t drink too much but he was just a lovely, gentle soul. Just a beautiful human being, a real loss and would do anything for anyone. i don’t think you could pay a bigger compliment.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments