Rugby greats pay tribute to Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu's first All Blacks captain remembers how the giant wing created a legacy for himself within just five or six games at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

Sean Fitzpatrick told Newstalk ZB this morning Lomu wasn't originally part of the team plan at the Cup, but an injury to Eric Rush gave him his chance.

"Little did we know we were going to have a 19.5 stone, 6.5ft winger. He was just a revelation. He broke the mould about what rugby players should do," Fitzpatrick said.

"The legacy he created was basically done in the space of about five or six games really."

Jonah Lomu, Sean Fitzpatrick and Jeff Wilson hold the Bledisloe Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Just a couple of years earlier, Fitzpatrick said he and All Blacks coach Laurie Mains had seen Lomu as a barnstorming No 8 for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team against their Australian counterparts at Carisbrook, Dunedin.

"We said, 'gosh, what's his name?'," he said.

"Twelve months later he was on the wing playing for the All Blacks - just phenomenal really from where he came from to what he did, especially in '95."

Lomu's first couple of tests against France in 1994 didn't go well.

But a year later he became a superstar.

Fitzpatrick told Newstalk ZB that never changed him.

"He was the most wonderful person, very gracious, very humble. He was almost embarrassed by the adulation he received after '95.

"I can honestly say we never had any issues with him thinking he was bigger than the team. I think that says so much about the person. He was a good man."

In 1996, as the All Blacks won a series in South Africa for the first time, Lomu lost his place in the team.

But as the victorious team came off the field at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld, Lomu led the non-playing team members in a haka.

Fitzpatrick said that "speaks volumes" as to what it meant to Lomu - a proud All Black and a proud New Zealander.

And on social media, victorious World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw paid tribute to his former teammate last evening.

"I still can't believe the sad news today," McCaw posted on Facebook. "Jonah was an incredible rugby player and a top bloke. My thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace mate."

A tweet from Irish Rugby also paid respect.

"A game changer, a legend, an All Black. Our prayers are with family & friends of @JONAHTALILOMU @AllBlacks #RIPJonah."

English rugby great Lewis Moody posted: "Can't believe the news that #JonahLomu has died. Such a sad day. He single handedly changed the game of rugby. Rugby's 1st global super star."

And former England skipper Will Carling posted a selfie of him and Lomu at Twickenham.

"Just before RWC Final with the great man. Rest easy Legend. Gentle off the field, awesome & unstoppable on it."

Just before RWC Final with the great man. Rest easy Legend. Gentle off the field, awesome & unstoppable on it pic.twitter.com/l9VX57rvuV

— Will Carling (@willcarling) November 18, 2015

"An absolute superstar"

Former All Black Zinzan Brooke told Newstalk ZB today he was "emotional" as he remembered Lomu as a "raw talent".

"He had everything. He had the size, the pace, the power. He had the attitude," Brooke said.

"I saw him starting his career in the sevens. He was in Hong Kong and he quickly accelerated into 15s.

"He hit the international scene in 1995. I thought he was absolutely outstanding."

Brooke last saw Lomu at the Rugby World Cup, between the quarter and semifinals.

He thought he was fine, but said maybe those outside the Lomu family didn't know the extent of former All Black's illness.

"He's a great guy and he was an absolute superstar on and off the pitch," Brooke said.

"When I saw him about six or eight weeks ago he was very humble. He was just a great guy, a great rugby player, an ambassador for the game."

Brooke also recalled the pair once visiting a Michelin Star restaurant together.

As they waited for an entree they got hungry and ate a bread roll each, then another and then another.

"Twenty rolls later we didn't have the Michelin Star food."

"Lomu made a statement"

Jonah Lomu runs through England's fullback Mike Catt. Photo / Getty Images

We all remember rugby commentator Keith Quinn losing his words as Jonah Lomu scythed through the English defence to score at the 1995 World Cup semifinal.

"Lomu... oh... oh...." Quinn purred.

Meanwhile, English fullback Mike Catt was left sprawled on the ground after being run over by the giant All Blacks wing.

On Newstalk ZB this morning, Catt recalled the moment. Lomu was part of a "formidable" All Blacks lineup", he said.

"There was this big 19, 20-year-old that came in and took the 1995 World Cup by storm by literally running over people.

"I was unfortunately, [or] fortunately, one of the two, one that it happened to."

Lomu made a statement as an individual but also for rugby, Catt said, as everyone wanted to follow him and the All Blacks.

Before the semifinal, which England lost as Lomu powered over the tryline four times, Catt said he did his homework and watched an unstoppable Lomu against Scotland.

"He did pretty much the same to [Scotland captain] Gavin Hastings as he did to me and Gavin Hastings was three stone heavier than me, at 16 stone.

"When Jonah came running at me I'm thinking, 'right, get your feet close, I want to drive through the player'. Unfortunately all I remember is him scoring the try behind me," Catt recalled.

"For me to be making a tackle, he's obviously run through 14 blokes to get to me as the last man of defence."

Catt blamed English captain Will Carling for Lomu running over him.

Lomu was off balance after Carling ankle-tapped him.

"That's probably the reason he's running straight over the top of me, because otherwise he would have just run around me like he did three times after that," Catt said."He was, as Will Carling put it, a freak of nature back in 1995."