Rugby World Cup Blog | Jonah Lomu | 2007

Another big day at the quarters ...

Tue Oct 09 12:54PM

2007 Rugby World Cup John Smit South Africa v Fiji Mosese Rauluni

It was Paris Nuit Blanche on Saturday night so when we arrived back from Cardiff at 3am we took a walk along the Champs Elysee. There were people everywhere and the atmosphere was fantastic. All the French we met said they were so sorry for the All Blacks and were very gracious in their win.

Back at home in New Zealand the country has slipped into a depression and many are deeply shocked that we were knocked out in the quarters. Most New Zealanders were focusing on the semi-finals thinking the All Blacks were sure to reach that phase. It will take some time for NZ to get over this and no doubt there will be many weeks of analysing and dissecting to understand why the All Blacks came to prematurely leave the World Cup on October 6.

After the two upsets on Saturday yesterday promised to be another nail biter. Fiji versus South Africa was always going to be a very intense physical game. The first half of the match was fairly even but South Africa had the edge and had made their intentions clear from the start. Fiji had an air of danger around them in terms of their attacking abilities in broken play. With speedsters like Delasau, Bobo sniffing out the try line they maintained the pressure on the Springboks and kept them to a respectable 13-3 at half time. The first half was more a battle of physical strength with each crunching tackle more brutal than the last as the intensity built towards half time.

Near midway in the second half the Fijians took hold of the game and scored two tries to take them level with the South Africans. This achieved while having a man in the sin bin for 10, it seemed they played better with less men on the field, much like their 7's team. The third try looked sure until it was stifled by an outstanding tackle by Pietersen. At 20 all the game was electric with excitement. Finally with a deep kick into the Fijian territory the South African rolling maul saw them cross the white line with Percy Montgomery taking the conversion which for me was the turning point in the game and saw South Africa win the match 37-20 and secure their place in the semi finals.

Fiji have had a magnificent tournament and have shown that they can compete not only in the 7's but also in the 15 man game. They've produced some wonderful rugby and have been great to watch. This squad was a very physical side and that's something you haven't seen in a Fijian side for a very long time. What let them down in the end were handling errors in pressure situations but that was something we saw from many of the teams as the tournament progressed. Fiji should be very proud of their achievements and this is a part of rugby history that will not be forgotten quickly. Congratulations on your contribution to this World Cup, you were one of the most vibrant and colourful teams of this tournament.

Last night I went along to Stade de France to see Argentina take on Scotland. The first half was fairly even and a little messy, neither side dominating play and neither side winning the aerial battle. At times it felt like they were kicking the ball for the sake of it. The Argentineans having to wait more than 30 minutes before crossing the line, their only try of the match. The pace of the game was reasonably slow and for the most part it wasn't an electrifying match. The physical side of the game was prominent from each side especially in the forward confrontation. Both sides had opportunities to make breaks on the outside but wrong options were taken numerous times and the opportunities lost.

Both sides managed to retain the ball for long sequences of play and I found the game a little frustrating to watch. It was just one pass that would have made the difference and they never got there. This more so for Scotland who were also let down by handling errors. Mentally for both teams this game was a great challenge and even with the physical nature of the game there were demonstrations of respect by both sides, players checking on injured opposition, giving a hand up from the ruck.

The second half the Argentineans didn't really have to get out of second gear. The Scots however picked up the tempo and showed some moments of good rugby and the break up the middle by the substitute prop really bought the game alive. Everyone was on their feet willing Scotland towards the try line. As the game reached the final minutes Scotland camped soundly in the Argentina half but with each wave of the Scottish attack the Argentinean defence held strong and were able to keep them from scoring a second try that would have given them the win.

The most amazing thing of the game was the crowd. A mixture of French, Argentineans, Scottish and a few others. The French sang their national anthem over and over again and cheered loudly for both sides, living on the high of their win yesterday. It was amazing because it really feels like the World Cup has come alive in France, with the host nation cheering on two teams from other countries amongst a crowd of 76,000 packed into Stade de France.

Argentina comes through to the semi finals, another first for them after making it to the quarters. They have had an amazing tournament kicked off with the win against France in the opening match. They have had a big impact in their own country which is a football stronghold to the point where the Boca Juniors versus River Plate game was moved to a different time so this game could be viewed live. This is a first in rugby and it shows the growing support for rugby in a nation that is fanatical about their football. Congratulations Argentina you deserve to be in the top four in this World Cup.

I'm looking forward to the semi final matches next weekend and will be at Stade de France to experience it live. It's fantastic to see France get behind this World Cup and I think the next two weeks are going to be an amazing time for everyone involved in it or around it. Jonah.

Comments1 - 14 of 14

i like fijians game.they pleyed very well.congratulations
From xvicha777 on Tue Oct 09 02:16PM
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hey jonah lomu ... how are you? ... my brother once met you in a lift ... he told me you're a big big boy ... you'll always be a legend mate ... all the best!
From littlecallix on Wed Oct 10 08:14AM
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sorry you ar out of the game never met such a bril player in years als followd you when with the cardiff blues good luck with the rest of your life fom a true rugby fan
From ppsullivan on Wed Oct 10 10:15AM
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i like it
From tony.lee25 on Wed Oct 10 10:18AM
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i am an Irish woman who loves rugby and have loved you playing over the years ,in fact i can safety say that you got me interested in rugby i always read your blog thank you for the enjoyment . after Ireland lost i backed New Zealand M
From redmolly54 on Wed Oct 10 12:53PM
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Hi Jonah,I also was in paris for the All Blacks V France game. Me and my Family where at Euro disney.we wre subject to a lot of friendly abuse due to me beng covered in kirituhi tattoo's plus caratatures of u and tana on my calves me and my sons All Black shirts didnt help either. Even though we lost we had a good night as there was maori group performing Haka at the sports Bar where we watched the game with several 100 french supporters. Me and my boys are big fans of yourself especially my youngest who is only 4 !.I'm buzy designing a large back piece tattoo with u r self being the centre piece cant find the right photo I want full action pic from 99 world cup can u help kia kaha.
From stevehall63 on Wed Oct 10 01:35PM
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Dear Jonah,
I am a South African writer based in London (mushtakparker@ayahoo.co.uk). France 2007 has shown that rugby is an emerging global sport, but the IRB has to show leadership in acknowledging this and supporting its phenomenal growth. A major step towards this would be to include Argentina to the top table. The crowds and matches have been great and the atmosphere truly sporting - something football can learn from rugby. The island teams of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa as usual excelled with their individuial flair. But one thing I can never understand is why they stop short of learning the other basics of rugby - scrummaging and lineouts. Rugby is not only about running. Surely it is also about power and tactics. The only way the island teams will have any hope of progressing to the finals is if they learn how to compete at the scrums and lineouts. Physicality without power and tactics is nothing. The early exit of the All Blacks and Wallabies was shocking. Both teams have had an easy ride to the Quarter-finals. As such a complacency and lethargy krept in which made them ill-equipped to deal with the determination of the English and French challenges. I have never thought much of Graham Henry as an international coach. Rotation as a selection policy stinks. You choose your best team at all times. This creates competition to become better and that is good for the team as a whole. It instils a form of upward performance mobility, which should be the backbone of a sporting selection policy. Cheers. Keep in touch.
From mushtakparker on Wed Oct 10 01:37PM
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Hi Jona, if only you had a Scottish Grannie, Scotland might have been a force to reckon with- your power and pace and our "world class kicker" (mind you-that leaves another 13 postions to fill!)
Regarding the France game -I thought Michalak was attempting to shoot for a basket when he delivered the ball (maybe a wee bit forward in other words). The referee could have at least called for a time out
Regarding the sin bining offence -never turn your back on the game unless you've made your money already (sounds like the Northern Hemisphere contracted players are doing exactly that)
Big moment of that game -Cheval versus the Haka (thought the players were going to kiss each other, they got that close -and Cheval is no Dan Parker in the looks dept (wasn't that the psuedo name for SPiderman?) -and horse for the other!
Like you, I think this world cup has been a brilliant one -despite my scottish heritage.
Regarding your career -you were at another level -wonderful to watch. Favourite moment -when you deftly side stepped Tony Underwood ( England winger) by running over the top of him (..back to my Scottish heritage)-all the best!
(Argentina to win the tournament)
From miranda.melville on Wed Oct 10 09:15PM
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I am big fan of ALL BLACKS and my god father is fan of franch tim, so you can say that we had some arguments after the game, i am really sorry that the ALL BLACKS, didn't go trough to semi finales
Like on of people sad that " my brother once met you in a lift ... he told me you're a big big boy ... you'll always be a legend mate ... all the best!"
My friend played against you while you were playing for under 19 for all blacks, he played for Ireland
Stay well and grate regards from SERBIA!!!
From prodesign021 on Thu Oct 11 04:35PM
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The third try looked sure until it was stifled by an outstanding tackle by Pietersen. At 20 all the game was electric with excitement. Finally with a deep kick into the Fijian territory the South African rolling maul saw them cross the white line with Percy Montgomery taking the conversion which for me was the turning point
So much for expert comentary The Try that Pieterson stifled was more forward than the alleged french try against the all blacks, Typically The Kiwis have now only seen the first ref injustice in the history of Rugby,How many times has it been in there favour, and how many Record trys by the all black wings havent been forward, the early exit is Justice for all other ref injustices against other teams, Im not taking away from the fact that the all blacks are great Individual rugby players but now they no how it feels. GJC
From garth.cargin on Fri Oct 12 05:45AM
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Jonah is a fair and honest commentator and he picks up on the decent and sportsmanlike behaviour of players which is good (players checking on injured opposition giving a hand in the ruck) What we all need,every nation, is sportsmanship,an ability to lose well to be generous in defeat. Tonight's match England v France was a wonderful example of that and the French fought like lions until the last moment. R
Football might be the Beautiful Game but Rugby is set to become The Magnificent Game.A man's game.
From kathleen712 on Sat Oct 13 10:05PM
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Congrats England ! You have beaten france. But for me (i'm french), it was written because french players said "we are sooooo tired etc.". Poor stupid boys pffffff. England has played very well and france will can't never learn to win this kind off match. It was pathetic !! So, good luck for the next step
From patricech on Sat Oct 13 10:11PM
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It was't pretty, but England once again played with pride, passion and guts. There were plenty of stray passes and both teams suffered from injuries. France came back well after being rocked with an early try and for long periods contained England in their own half. The fans of both teams singing their hearts out willing their team to take the iniative, it was nail biting stuff. As the game wore on and England drove and kicked their way into the French half of the pitch you could sense the French getting nervous as the opprtunities for Johnny started to materialise. Well done guys, you're the defending champions and as such should be difficult to beat. The belief is there, we as England fans can see it and whoever we play in the final will know that the England team are getting stronger. Whichever team wins next week will have deserved it, it's once again been a great World Cup and French have been very good hosts. As for todays game, I hope Argentina win as they have been very enjoyable to watch but I also admire South Africa, against England they cruised to victory and looked very very good without getting out of second gear! Good luck, see you in the final!
From philipwhewell on Sun Oct 14 09:53AM
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i think Rugby is developing into a global sport but the world cup is not a fair competition as far as Africa as a continent is concerned,only SA represent Africa with Namibia going there so that the World Cup will have meaning but there are other African Countries with a lot of talent that are just overlooked and the IRB does not do anything to make the game grow in such countries as Zimbabwe who have such an imense pool of talent which is lost to other countries,for instance the ''American'' winger Takudzwa Ngwenya and a whole lot more who play in malor leagues around the world i think its not even suppossed to be called the World Cup,i think they should call it the Webb Ellis Cup.If countries like Romania and Portugal can go to the World Cup I don't see why the number of African countries that go to the world cup should be increased.Take a look at the Football world cup the reason its so successful is that the is a fair amount of teams representing all continents.The reason they are saying in ENGLAND,''Rugby is the new football is because its the only sport that they can do well because of lack of competition,in football they know they are just hopeless
From taf213 on Tue Oct 16 12:55PM
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