We all love a feel-good story and one of the very best examples involves All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.
Lomu was filming his Back to South Africa film – a return to the scene of the crime, so it were, with New Zealand’s 15-12 defeat to their old rivals 20 years prior perceived by the Kiwi public to be but the first choke of many on world rugby’s grandest stage.
Speaking to his former opponent, he said: “The most satisfying thing is that I can call you a friend. That keeps me going, man. That keeps me going. Now promise me that you’ll keep fighting, man, because I will. I’ll keep praying for you.
“I’m sure you’re going to beat this thing, because you just have that spirit. You always have – that rugby spirit. You don’t get to the top if you don’t have that, if you ain’t willing to fight for it. And I’m sure you’re going to keep fighting on, which I am doing too. And I think that’s a bond that we will always have.”
Jonah Lomu passed away in November 2015. Joost van der Westhuizen then died in 2017.
Reacting to the video, one fan wrote: “I hope the two friends are playing rugby in heaven tonight…”
“That kiss and “love you” from two legends both now passed away brought real tears to my eyes.” a second commented.
A third wrote: “Brought a genuine tear to the eye this. RIP Jonah. RIP Joost.”
The full video:
Jonah Lomu facts:
- Playing on the wing Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries
- He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days
- Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007, and the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011
- In 1996, McDonald’s New Zealand named a burger after Lomu, temporarily rebranding the McFeast burger line (called “Mega Feast” in New Zealand) as the “Jonah Burger”
- On 9 April 2007, Lomu appeared on New Zealand’s version of This Is Your Life, in which he was reunited with long time friend Grant Kereama, who had donated a kidney to Lomu when he underwent a kidney transplant in July 2004
- Lomu lent his name to various video games including Jonah Lomu Rugby
Jonah Lomu picked an incredible dream team weeks before his death in 2015
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu selected his all-time Dream Team for a French magazine and it’s an incredible line-up of legends.
The giant All Blacks wing was rugby’s first global star. He burst on the scene at the 1995 World Cup with some of the most destructive performances the rugby world had ever seen and with professionalism in its infancy Lomu became rugby’s first millionaire.
Six years ago today, he died unexpectedly on 18 November 2015 after suffering a heart attack associated with his kidney condition .
Shortly before his death, the superstar named his dream selection of his favourite players
Lomu reveal his toughest opponent ever was France international and father of current France star Romain, Émile Ntamack, before naming a star-studded selection.
Here’s what he had to say about Ntamack.
“When your taught to defend against someone you’re told to watch his hips because it’s the one place on the body when you’re running that stays in one place,” said Lomu.
“The problem with Émile was his whole body shifted, including his hips, meaning when he ran he swayed from side to side so I was always like what the the hell am I going to do here.”
Now, without further delay, here’s how Lomus’s phenomenal XV looked: