- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Last week Steve Hansen dropped a bombshell when he declared that Julian Savea is “probably” a better player than Jonah Lomu.
Allow me to drop one of my own: Julian Savea is definitely a better player than Jonah Lomu.
Lomu is put on a pedestal unlike any other player in the history of rugby. He was the game’s first true global superstar and remains an icon of the sport, but was he really as good or as dominant a player as he is so often recognised? The short answer is no.
Lomu was a genetic freak: 6 foot 5, 120 kilograms with the ability to run the 100m in under 11 seconds. Simply put, that’s just not fair. The rugby world had never seen anything like him, but put him in today’s game and it’s an entirely different story.
The advent of professionalism has provided players with world-class trainers and facilities to complement and enhance their naturally gifted size and speed. Big wings are commonplace and because Jonah’s era was lacking these beasts it gave him room to stand out.
If Lomu played in this era and therefore was a part of the conditioning and nutrition programmes that are afforded to professional players, who’s to say what he could have achieved. But I am not going to indulge in hypotheticals, simply look at two players based on their careers and overall skill levels.
Lomu had two extraordinary seasons for the All Blacks, coincidentally both World Cup years (95 and 99) where he was far and away the most dominant attacking player on the planet. But this leaves seven other seasons where he didn’t crack more than five tries in a calendar year.
Compare this to Savea, who has been one of the best two or three wings in the world since he burst onto the international scene in 2012 and is without a doubt the best in the world at the present. Couple that with the fact he’s yet to score less than seven tries in a calendar year and his consistency already puts him ahead of Lomu.
On attack with ball in hand Jonah was a sight to behold, a man of his size swerving, fending and steamrolling players left, right and centre was like something out of a video game. Yet there was never much of a surprise with him. You knew once he got the ball in his big paws he was going to run until he reached the try line or was taken down. He didn’t have a great step, basically a non-existent kicking game and certainly wasn’t the best passer of the ball.
Savea has all these attributes in abundance and therefore his attack is more varied and can create opportunities for players around him.
Defensively Lomu could be a bit of a liability as he wasn’t the quickest on the turn, was guilty of not tracking back to lend a hand, and could certainly put on the big hits. But he just doesn’t have the overall positioning or agility that make Savea such an efficient defender, both in terms of tackling and defending the high ball.
With these skills, as well as Savea’s underrated ability over the ball in ruck situations and ridiculous hands, it is clear Savea has the advantage in overall skillset.
Than there’s the strike rate. Lomu had a very respectable 37 tries in 63 Tests for the All Blacks, Savea is on 27 tries from 27 Tests. That is ridiculous, he is in his third season of Test football and is still averaging a try per game, meaning a strike rate of 100 per cent.
To put that into perspective, the closest two strike rates from players from tier-one nations who have scored over 25 Test tries are Doug Howlett and Christian Cullen, who both finished their careers with a strike rate of 79 per cent. Therefore Savea has to get the nod as the more efficient finisher.
Jonah Lomu is a true legend of the game, his impact on the sport of rugby union cannot be overstated, he revolutionised the sport and forced players and coaches the world over to rethink how the game can be played. At his best the argument can be made that he was the most devastating runner rugby has ever seen, yet there is no doubt in my mind that he is overrated.
Savea is on the up. If he maintains his current trajectory we will one day look back on him as the greatest winger to ever play the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.