Jeremy Guscott column: I thought I had tackled Jonah Lomu – but like so many I was wrong!

 Jonah LomuJonah Lomu was the most exciting rugby player I have ever had the privilege to watch, play against or play with. His rugby was inspirational, encouraging and attracted so many people from all backgrounds to the game. I remember watching coverage of the Hong Kong in 1994 and this young fella of 18 was running centre field with the ball. A defender tried to tackle him around the ankles, at the same time another defender took him around the waist. He stepped out of the lower tackle and shook off the waist tackler and then sprinted off to score a try.
I remember thinking at the time: “Blimey, how did that just happen.” He was covered, he should have been taken down and we should have been watching a mini ruck but, no, he literally tore his way out of those tackles using the gifts he was born with.
Jonah was big right from the moment Phil Kingsley-Jones discovered him at 14 years old playing rugby at Wesley College in Auckland, . His talents were clear to see, he wasn't like the other big kids, he didn't just use his size as a youngster, he realised he was also blessed with speed.
Jonah had skills that you thought would be nigh on impossible for a man of 6ft 5in and 18st 7lb to have in his locker. He had the ability to beat defenders by running through, over or around them using his devastating acceleration and pace.
Jonah played a beautiful form of rugby, at times it could be incredibly brutal – the way he could dismiss a tackler as if he didn't exist. I've been on the end of that treatment. I tried to tackle him during our match against New Zealand in 1999.
I was coming from the side, that was a bonus for me. If it had been head on I think he would have devoured me in much the same way he did Mike Catt in the semi-final. I had Jonah in my sights, I believed I could go low, get my arms around his legs, the knee region, stick to him like super glue and bring him down.
The theory was great, the practical was a disappointing failure. However, I wasn't the first and certainly not the last   player to think they could put a good one in on big Jonah.
Jonah burst onto the global scene during the 1995 . He was scoring tries left right and centre and most defenders were just blown away – some even looked the other way when he came in their direction.
We played New Zealand in the semi- final that year and had a plan to stop Jonah. We had to close him down before he got going, but we didn't get close to doing so and he pretty much beat us on his own.
In the match I remember making a break and quickly being closed down by the Kiwi defenders. With most options shut off, I spotted Ben Clarke, our 6ft 5in 17st 7lb backrower, and passed him the ball. What I failed to spot was Jonah was lining him up and as soon as Ben caught the ball Jonah smashed into him at full throttle and pretty much switched his lights off!
When I heard the very sad news on Wednesday morning that Jonah had passed I immediately had the vision of him running in the black of New Zealand down the touchline, swatting away defenders with his long reach and powerful hand-off on his way to scoring another brilliant try.
I went downstairs and looked through a photo album I was given by the Barbarian rugby club when I played for them in my last international against in 2001. There's a picture of myself sandwiched in between Jonah and Joeli Vidiri, another fantastic player. Looking at the picture brought so many happy memories of Jonah flooding back, he had time for absolutely everybody of any age who wanted an autograph or a chat.
Jonah transcended Rugby Union.
When he was playing if someone who had no interest in rugby switched on a TV and caught sight of this colossus running with the ball they wouldn't have been able to stop themselves shouting out in amazement, watching him destroying defenders and scoring tries.
If he walked down the street in any city in any country you'd look at his size and, if brave enough, have to ask him who he was and what he did. The answer was, he brought rugby to the masses.
Jonah was an amazing player, he was incredibly talented.
It wasn't just his size, it was his speed and his ability to utilise that potent combination to best effect. There are a lot of big players in rugby but they don't have the dexterity and athletic ability that Jonah possessed.
Jonah was inspirational on and off the pitch. He carried his battle against his kidney disorder with as much determination as he would have carrying two or three players over the line when scoring.
All our heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Jonah leaves a beautiful legacy, he was a lovely man, who will always be remembered and never forgotten.

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