'World's deadliest winger' is likened to Forrest Gump
Jonny May is viewed by England team-mate Ben Youngs as the deadliest wing in the world who shows flashes of Forrest Gump.
The Leicester duo are plotting the downfall of Wales in Saturday’s seismic Six Nations title clash with May’s speed and finishing instincts sure to be central in Eddie Jones’ gameplan.
The 28-year-old has plundered 12 tries in as many Tests, including a devastating hat-trick against France in round two, to emerge as a superstar of the game.
“Jonny’s been phenomenal the last 12 months, if not longer,” Youngs said of his Leicester colleague. “He’s certainly the in-form winger in the world and perhaps the best winger in the world at the moment. The threat Jonny poses is out-and-out pace and that’s incredibly hard to deal with. You’re not going to win a foot race against him.
“When someone is as quick as him you know that when the ball is put in behind you, he’s going to be there. He suddenly appears, a bit like Forrest Gump on that kick return in the movie where he gets given the ball and he just goes!”
By his own admission, May is “a bit different to most of the others” in a team now rated as favourites to relieve Ireland of their Six Nations crown.
England scrum-half Danny Care recently claimed that he “used to think he was possessed by a chicken!”
Care added: “He used to go around clucking and thought this chicken demon was inside him. I don’t know whether it was an act or true – with Jonny you just never know!”
Nothing to see here, just Jonny May chasing a chicken… ?? #GuinnessSixNations #SixNations pic.twitter.com/b4YgH8xhxe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 12, 2019
For all the entertainment provided by England’s sharpest attacking weapon, May insists the blistering form that began during the 2018 summer tour to South Africa is the product of years of toil on the practise field.
“Do you think I was possessed by a chicken? It’s a bit silly isn’t it? I don’t think at any stage that has happened,” he said. “What’s been a little bit funny to me is that everyone’s now saying ‘wow’ whereas I feel it hasn’t happened overnight.
“I feel like I’ve been working hard over a long period of time. You’ve got to stick at it and keep working hard. People might suddenly start taking notice but that’s not going to make me think anything different other than ‘I want to keep doing what I’m doing’.
“I am a much different player to what I was and I am proud of where I am and where I have come from when you think about my first 10 games. I have scored a lot in my last 12 – more than in my first 30 – is that luck or a coincidence? Maybe it is, but I know my game is better now and the tries come with that.”
May is aware that his profile has rocketed, but takes a level-headed approach to the mass of plaudits that have descended upon him. “I try to avoid it as much as I can, that is my first strategy, but it’s hard,” May said.
“Without knowing, your sister sends you a silly interview of something. Or you pick up a paper or flick on your Instagram. It is hard to escape it all. Although it’s nice, it’s irrelevant. I am not the sort of guy to get distracted by that, or think I’ve made it.
“Whether it is good or bad you have got to stick to your plan and keeping working hard. That is what I have been doing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to comments