While one of rugby's outstanding players, Jonah Lomu, has taken a bit of a pasting for his last test performance, another celebrated back, Tim Horan, is getting accolades even though he has not played any Tri-Nations tests this year.
The pair both qualify as great players, but for contrasting reasons. No one excites crowds more than Lomu.
He is a lethal finisher. Everytime he gets the ball, spectators edge forward in their seats in anticipation.
The problem for the All Blacks at Ellis Park last Sunday morning was that he did not get the ball often enough, nor did he go looking for it. He was in that strangely passive state he occupies in some internationals.
The only ones happy were the Springboks.
Horan is admired as a player who beat several horrendous injuries, starred in most of his 80 tests, was clever on attack and superb in defence.
He might have been the sport's best inside centre.
His talent was considerable, his courage immense, his determination frightening.
Horan was a total rugby package, a supreme team player and good enough to captain the Wallabies and play tests in every position in the backline except halfback.
Lomu and Horan made their test debuts as teenagers. Lomu became the youngest test All Black after his 1994 debut against France, while Horan made his start against the All Blacks in 1989.
He had not even played for Queensland then, but Bob Dwyer knew he had spotted a special player.
Injuries threatened his career. A shocking knee injury in the Super 10 final in 1994 meant Horan had to learn to walk and run again, while the foot problem this season has taken him off the international stage.
He was a huge influence during the Wallabies' World Cup wins in 1991 and 1999 and was voted player of the tournament at the last event.
Lomu's 44-test career has seen a little more selection turbulence.
He was dropped after his first two tests, returned for the 1995 World Cup, where he was the tournament star, before his career was interrupted by severe health problems in 1997.
His form was not good enough last year to gain him a regular start until the World Cup, where he was devastating.
Lomu's mixed contributions confuse spectators, critics, fans and selectors.
It provoked Queensland coach John Connolly to label Lomu as "only half a player" this year.
Springbok Thimus Delport questioned whether the wing was lazy.
If there have been similar reservations about Horan, then they have been kept secret.
"I'm sure there will never be another Tim Horan. Maybe that's a good thing," said his long-time midfield partner, Jason Little.
The only trophy missing from Horan's CV is the Tri-Nations title. But he will be in Durban tomorrow as part of a new Wallaby tradition where a former test player addresses the squad.
You figure if the Wallabies win, they might just drag Horan out of the crowd to join them in a lap of honour.
It would be a very appropriate public acknowledgement of his greatness.
All Blacks test programme 2000
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from All Blacks
Gregor Paul: Super Rugby form giving All Blacks selectors a simple task
OPINION: Super Rugby will be relatively stress-free viewing for Scott Robertson.