All Blacks: Lomu the best, says Savea

Name: All Blacks: 'England more dangerous'
Uploaded: 2014-11-05T14:06:42+13:00
Duration: 180 s
Description: England's increasing willingness to run the ball - which almost brought them dividends in Dunedin in June - is good not only for them and the game but also the All Blacks, according to Kieran Read and Julian Savea.

By Patrick McKendry

Reporter·NZME.·

5 Nov, 2014 04:00 PM3 mins to read

England's increasing willingness to run the ball - which almost brought them dividends in Dunedin in June - is good not only for them and the game but also the All Blacks, according to Kieran Read and Julian Savea.

Julian Savea, rapidly becoming the most feared rugby wing ever with his strike rate against England in particular a thing of wonder, has brushed off comparisons with the most famous of all All Black No 11s, Jonah Lomu.

Savea's record of 29 tries in 30 tests, including a remarkable eight in four tests against England, has inevitably seen him compared to Lomu in his prime, with coach Steve Hansen saying recently that Savea was a more complete player.

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The man himself, though, was having none of it in London yesterday ahead of another test against England at Twickenham that he must be looking forward to with relish.

"I guess everyone has their own opinions," Savea said. "For Steve to say that was an honour [for me] to be compared to [Lomu].

"To me personally, no one is better than Jonah. He was my idol when I was growing up. I had his haircut. He changed the game back in his era and inspired a lot of kids as well. No one is going to be better than Jonah, he's one in a million."

Lomu, troubled by his kidney condition during his career, scored 37 tries in 63 tests for a strike rate of 71.42 per cent. Savea is scoring at 91.66 per cent, which is easily the best in the history of international rugby.

The English have always been fascinated with Lomu after his deeds against their team in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, where he ran through, around, and in Mike Catt's case, over the defence. Savea was asked by an English journalist if he remembered Lomu's actions in that semifinal, and replied [the now 24-year-old was aged four at the time]: "I remember that."

Savea, who scored two tries as a substitute against the USA in Chicago last weekend, said he didn't keep a record of his mounting tally. He has failed to score in only 12 tests, and has scored two hat-tricks - one on debut against Ireland at Eden Park in 2012 and one against England in Hamilton in June.

"I don't keep a record," he said. "It's amazing to get one [try] and I guess the track record is an honour for me and a privilege."