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.
Wottaway
Guest
A comment on some comments. Let's wait until Savea quits before talking about strike rates *(was 'time with ball' included?) Lomu did a lot of his best work when he was nowhere near his wing. He didn't need a kicking game. He DID have great hands and balance. He DID have a step....and swerve. How often was he tested under a high ball, not often I'll bet. Have a look at his College record, aside from football, he'd take some beating in an Olympic Pen/Decathlon. How anyone could say he was over-rated is beyond belief (even if Savea is generally acknowledged to be better) He lacked only one thing, improving his position for the conversion, which he rarely did or even needed to (great kickers), but could have any time he wanted. I don't spend any time comparing players from across the codes....except for wingers, and Lomu is the only one who would keep Billy Boston out of an eclectic World Team ( the other winger would be Brian Bevan, both from English League). He also had years of football ahead of him.
Politically Incorrect
Guest
Exactly. Ben Smith is a superior player to Savea for all those reasons and more; he can play fullback and outside centre too. So what's the issue here?
superman
Guest
"was he dominant as everyone say he is? the answer is no!" Mate what are you smoking?? Do you even know anything about rugby?? Julian savea yeah is a better player all round but it doesn't make him any better than Jonah lomu... Why would lomu need skills when he can just run over a whole team... No one dominated a whole team like lomu did... And you say he wasn't as dominant as everyone say he is lmao go watch he's games and the domestic games he played in New Zealand and come back and tell me how he played... Julian savea still has a long way the go before you compare him to Jonah lomu... Julian saver wasn't the only one more skilled than lomu there was Howlett Jeff Wilson rocokocoko you can go on but no player dominated a team like Jonah lomu did...
Brad Moran
Roar Rookie
Although I agree with quite a bit of your comment, Savea's sample size in Provincial and Sevens rugby is too small compared to Lomu who competed in both for basically his entire career. As for Super Rugby Lomu has 26 tries in 59 games whilst Savea has 23 tries in 56 games. So a close to identical strike rate and if you were making the argument you could say Jonah was on the end of a better backline for the majority of his Super Rugby days.
Brad Moran
Roar Rookie
Although I agree with quite a bit of your comment, Savea's sample size in Provincial and Sevens rugby is too small compared to Lomu who competed in both for basically his entire career. As for Super Rugby Lomu has 26 tries in 59 games whilst Savea has 23 tries in 56 games. So a close to identical strike rate and if you were making the argument you could say Jonah was on the end of a better backline for the majority of his Super Rugby days.
Brad Moran
Roar Rookie
Agreed completely Garth, something the people at The Roar edited out of my original article was a statement I made declaring that Jonah wasn't even the most dangerous attacker in the All Blacks backline for the majority of his career, that honor would be designated to Jeff Wilson, Christian Cullen or later on Tana Umaga.
john
Guest
As mentioned above, different eras. Your winger didn't kick, certainly no grubbers, high balls were fairly non-existant etc. So Lomu didn't have those skills because at that time he didn't require them. Its like criticising a HB from the 90s for not kicking..back then kicking from the HB was uncommon. Now its a common trait e.g. Smith, White, Pienaar
Play the Game
Guest
Who cares ,they both "legends"
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
I dont think anyone cares about how flashy he tries are when your getting 1 a game to be honest. Im not sure if hes faster id say theyd be pretty similar. Lome drew defenders because the average size of backs compared to today was rather low and the little guys struggled to put him down in todays game his impact would be significantly less as professionalism has allowed growth in tactics and skill and even the size of the players i mean do you think he would just toss a man like vermuelen or willem alberts aside? I love lomu but lets be real here rugby is only growing with bigger stronger faster athletes at its disposal yes lomu would still be a great but he would not be this unstoppable freight train he was back then
John
Guest
I think some don't realise just how big Savea is. He is 6"4 and 110kg. Granted he isn't as big as Lomu or Nadolo, but boy were talking about a big specimen here. Ardie Savea not as big..but has all the makings as a fine number 7..6"2-6"3 and 95kg.
therugbyfan
Guest
Lomu is the better attacker, Savea is the better defender, Savea has a better strike rate but Lomu has more spectacular tries, Lomu from memory also creates more opportunities for his teammates to score (see Kronfield) Savea has a much better kicking game than Lomu but Lomu has a much better offload than Savea. Lomu is also bigger and faster than Savea and has better balance. Most of Savea's tries have come from the Pumas a opponent one would argue Lomu would score a lot more if he played the pumas 2 twice yearly. Lomu craps all over Savea in Provincial, Super Rugby and Sevens
mania
Guest
cowboy. i did say that lomu was a media sensation. as a rugby player tho savea is better
mactheblack
Guest
Savea definitely a better allround player. Gets stuck into everything; can pass finds the right positions and my can he bump opposition defenders off at will. That was absolutely mind-blowing to see how many times he shook off tackles from the Bok big men! Really great to watch. Wrap this guy in cotton wool please, so injuries don't curtail his career!
tinman
Guest
Not bad I would add jerry Collins & Brad Thorn in there... even now! And if they had their own haka I think we would actually see the opposition shat themselves!
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
Well then i have decided that you are alright mr tinman hahah My Beast xv = 1. Beast Mtawarira 2. Bismarck Du Plessis 3. Charlie Faumauina 4. Brodie Retallick 5. Eben Etzebeth 6. Jerome Kaino 7. Sharks seven i cant remember his name for the life of me 8. Duane Vermuelen 9. TJ Perenara 10. Morne steyn (hes pretty big) 11. Julian Savea 12. Manu Tuilagi (was in center at some point) 13. Mathieu Bastareaud 14. Nemani Nadolo 15. Israel Folau. Far from perfect but thatd be a damn scary team hahah
tinman
Guest
I wouldnt argue with Nadolo!! There in lies a beast if I've ever seen one.
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
To be fair im not a huge fan of his but i look at him and thing if thats not a beast i dont know what is! Hahah substitute him with nadolo if you dont think hes a beast but id say hes pretty damn beast like hahah
tinman
Guest
@ Aidan when you mention Skelton and beast in the same sentence I knew you were havin a laugh. Maybe he's a beast in a buffet but not be in rugby!!
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
Although many of you will disagree with me on this i think youl find in the next few years nemani nadolo will be a world xv winger hes bigger than savea and lomu slower ofcourse but he runs over people all the same imagine him in an all blacks jersey that would be amazing although im fine with him staying with fiji. I mean the game came in atleast 1/3 of a way through the super season and finished equal try scorer with folau now thats pretty damn impressive. Oh and btw if lomu played today would people be scared of him? No they would not Will Skelton and Lood De Jagr are beasts but nobody is scared of them such is the nature of rugby.
44bottles
Roar Guru
What if I compare Ben Smith with Julian Savea? Whilst this is over-exaggerated, I think you need to take into consideration WHY the two are being compared. I don't think you will find anyone that disagrees that Savea has a much better all-round skillset than Lomu. But the only reason we are comparing the two is because of one particular facet of play, the use of size and speed to either evade or trample the defender(s). If I compared Ben Smith with Savea, I could come up with some very similar points to the Lomu comparison. Ben Smith has better footwork, is a better tackler, can kick better, is better under the high ball and has better hands than Savea. I also think with the lack of tries scored, you need to take into account that he wasn't playing for the All Blacks as much because of various things such as his kidney problems, and 7s commitments. Savea doesn't have these so can completely concentrate on 15s