SCAN THE SPORT – Former international, Christophe Lamaison has faced several times Jonah Lomu. Flyhalf remembers an outstanding player but also a man apart.
Christopher, how did you experienced the death of Jonah Lomu?
Christophe Lamaison I am a little weird feeling of being both touched by sadness but also proud to have a player of crossing field. Four or five times in my career, I have been part of the privileged who have crossed swords with him.
Does Revolutionized rugby in the 90s?
I do not know if is revolutionizing the right word. What is certain is that it has highlighted the values of our sport. It’s the star who took to rugby. Resituons the context, sometimes in the 90′s with a crazy bet launched by New Zealand to the wing a monster who had measurements comparable to those of a forward to a position where we mostly saw slender players fast. New Zealanders found this nugget, is shaped into a huge player.
It was also the first rugby player to get into the sport business …
There are not many stars in rugby. In other sports, one can often cite several legendary players, fun to compare … But in rugby, there Lomu and then others. His name still fascinates today in all schools rugby. What for? Because all the kids knew via the Playstation. This is unique.
What he impressed you most on land?
Physically already. It was a monster but the beauty of this term. It is very difficult to compare it to other players because we had no benchmark comparison as it was unique. There was this particular physical but there was more his speed that just added to the equation. At the same time, what a challenge when one is player compete with it!
“Obviously there is a very real fear of feeling that drives you.”
Are you this player was actually scared on the ground when you see him ball in hand upon thee?
Laughter. When you know that rugby is a combat sport with contacts and that tells you that you will have in front of you a guy who launched thirty kilos more than you and a foot, inevitably there is a feeling of very real fear that drives you. And even if you feel deep inside you ready for the challenge.
Justement, years after having played, have you found the solution to stop or to drop it?
Well … The flatten it was really complicated … So we had to find a system he gets to the least possible balloons. In 1999 at the World Cup, so we set up a strategy. Without knowing that he had his kidney health problems at the time, we had discovered that he lacked land. The idea was to make him run to make it less hard over the meeting. But we knew that if he took the ball, we would dearly. It was accepted that this player and only that player is able to cross the field spilling ten players to score a try.
“It was a very reserved boy, even too introverted compared to the star he had become.”
How was the man on the ground with his mind and personality?
In addition to its non-standard qualities, he had a spirit that made him a popular man of all, players and coaches, supporters but also opponents. Everyone who met him also felt great respect. This denoted in this sport because of “raw” he exuded something special. Even when he lost, he remained the same man.
You have rubbed off the pitch at parties after the match, how did he behave?
It was a very boy reserved, even too introverted compared to the star he had become. He was a man always considerate of others, who loved his sport and who had a somewhat complicated childhood. He took pleasure in all situations that were open to him.
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