Jonah Lomu still a hero

BY TOBY ROBSON

Jonah Lomu's main job in the south of France is to lift rugby's profile on to the national stage.

The All Blacks legend has been brought in to boost Marseilles' profile as part of a three-year plan to lift the lowly club into the French Top 14.

It's no half-hearted effort with the municipality of Vitrolles weighing in financially and the national union supportive of a top rugby side being established in the country's second largest city behind Paris.

Lomu has brought with him a sponsorship deal with adidas that sees the third division club get 6000 (NZ$12,300) worth of gear.

How ironic then that this week the locals' new hero is inspiring his adidas-adorned former team-mates to halt the Tricolours' storming season in its tracks.

Rugby's crusade to break into one of France's football strongholds, a Mediterranean port with a large Algerian immigrant population, isn't the All Blacks' concern.

It is beating France and Ma'a Nonu, who played alongside Lomu for the Hurricanes in 2003, spoke yesterday of the high regard he is held in by the current All Blacks.

"Jonah's one of those big fellas that looks after the young guys. He used to live up in Maupuia, which if you've been to Wellington is up on the hill there, a big orange place. That was Jonah's castle.

"I just lived down the road in Miramar and funnily enough he used to pick me up on the way to training, so I was pretty lucky."

It wasn't just the flash cars that Lomu was renowned for driving around the city.

For a then 21-year-old, Nonu was sharing a ride with his biggest hero and his presence in Marseille this week is no small matter to the younger All Blacks.

"He is really [an idol to me]. He's a generous guy, a giant who is really friendly. He's still got that respect. The boys hold him in high regard and he will always be a legend in every kid's eyes.

"We saw how he got sick and that was a shame because he was having a big season with the Hurricanes in '03. Then to see him come back with his bodybuilding it's pretty [inspiring]."

Lomu lives just minutes from the All Blacks' hotel and was set to visit his old mates last night.

Whether he has an official role in the buildup to the test is unclear, but it wouldn't do any harm if the big guy handed out the jerseys.

One thing that is clear is the All Blacks are primed for this test.

They have a fully fit squad despite six players taking a limited part in the weekly football match at a local astroturf sports field.

Reserve hooker Corey Flynn's hamstring looks to have improved and he completed some three-quarter pace running, as did prop John Afoa, who has a sore ankle.

Neemia Tialata doesn't train on the hard astroturf surface to protect his knees, while Zac Guildford (groin), Nonu (knee) and Anthony Boric (general soreness) rested.

All were precautionary and Nonu said the squad was timing its run into the last test of a big year.

Unlike some of his team-mates, he does not carry the baggage of the quarterfinal exit at the 2007 World Cup when he was strangely left out the squad. However, he does have the inspiration of a boyhood hero.

- © Fairfax NZ News