Chris Rattue: Time for Jonah to face facts

Jonah Lomu still draws a crowd, although not the one North Harbour most wanted. When the one-time giant of world rugby attempted to charge up the wing against Manawatu at Albany last Friday, a posse of defenders casually shoved him in to touch.

In the background were rows of empty seats - and with little wonder, in hindsight.

The first half was so poor that it could have been jettisoned past rugby's new Thursday night-time slot and into Monday morning. There were attempts to pin bravery medals on Lomu during and after Friday's match, but the people who deserve awards are North Harbour fans enduring this nonsense.

Lomu doesn't HAVE to be out there. He chooses to be, with Harbour's misplaced approval. And it's clearly not in Harbour's best interest that he remains out there.

The undeniable answer to the Jonah Lomu question is that he not only is and will remain way off the provincial pace, but to select him again is to deny other players their due. First, rewind. After undergoing a kidney transplant, Lomu set himself a mission of returning to the All Blacks for the World Cup. Only the rugby fantasists and myth-makers actually suggested this was possible.

Maybe they dreamed of the days when New Zealand thought it could rule rugby's high seas and saw Lomu as the chief destroyer. Let's face it - he's only got this ridiculous comeback chance because of the Lomu mythology. And against Manawatu, Lomu looked like a listing battleship competing in a fizz-boat race.

Everyone wishes Lomu a good recovery from his debilitating illness, as they do for the thousands of others in our communities who suffer similar problems. But the Lomu comeback is tomfoolery.

Now, how could he possibly win a Blues spot ahead of Doug Howlett, David Smith, James Somerset, Rudi Wulf and Viliame Waqaseduadua, plus Joe Rokocoko in the later rounds?

Lomu had enough deficiencies in his game already - years of inactivity, the illness and the drugs meant he was on a mission impossible.

And so it proved to be, on Friday night. His marker, an 85kg schoolkid, could pick Lomu up. His attempted bursts were easily halted.

Lomu failed to hook up with a series of left-sided attacks in the second half and instead wandered around the rucks. He responded to one tackle by hooking the ball away, and also lost the ball in contact. And Lomu finished the game rooted to the spot, missing a tackle.

Anyone taking North Harbour's title bid seriously should not be amused. They would be mad to risk Lomu against Otago, Canterbury and Waikato while denying another player his professional chance. George Pisi should have been out there from the start on Friday night if Harbour were serious about chasing a big win.

And this punter, for one, cringes at the thought of Lomu facing decent opposition and examination from a marker who doesn't have to worry about exams.

How's this for bravery? I dare say Lomu will continue to hang around, but instead, he should find the courage to hang up his boots.