ONE short year from the showpiece of rugby union and the chance for the game’s outstanding players to make the leap from rugby star to global sports star. Ironically, the World Cup player who made the greatest impression outside his own sport never won the Webb Ellis trophy.
The year was 1995 and the country was South Africa. I was sitting on a South African Airways flight bound for Johannesburg and the World Cup final between the hosts and New Zealand. One day earlier I had sat spellbound as Lomu had trampled English hopes into the Cape Town grass with arguably the most famous individual performance in the history of the sport.
On the runway I scribbled something about Lomu doing for rugby what Michael Jordan was doing for basketball. Maybe it was hyperbolic but Lomu’s performance remains more memorable than any other I have seen.
Lomu is still the biggest World Cup name, still a legend. He was the loser in the final but won over the fans for ever.
The other name synonymous with the World Cup, especially if you happen to be English, is Jonny Wilkinson.
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The England fly-half was slow to stamp his authority on the 2003 tournament, suffering indifferent form until a masterful kicking display in the semi-final against France. In the final the fact that he missed a few drop goals only made his game-winning moment all the more human. The hero of the English public became linked with the Webb Ellis trophy for all time.
At the moment there is unlikely to be a corresponding national hero for the home nation. England are long on team ethos and short on individual genius. If Mike Brown can reproduce his form of a year ago he could be the man to define the rugby nation with his typically English determination. If the hour needs a bulldog, Brown could be it.
A more likely “giant” presence is a New Zealander with the capacity to match Lomu’s performances in the 1999 Wales World Cup, if not his sensational efforts in South Africa four years earlier. The favourites to defend their trophy have a team spirit and individual genius across the team sheet, with one man capable of setting the competition alight with his try-scoring and his creative ability.
Julian Savea is called The Bus by his teammates. But this bus is not easy to catch: he has the acceleration of a Ferrari. He is not as quick as Lomu but his running lines, handling and finishing mark him as the potential superstar. His try-scoring record at Twickenham is superb.
England will want to see the back of him as soon as possible, while neutrals will hope to see as much of Savea as possible. In yesterday’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina, Savea scored two tries, improving his phenomenal scoring rate of a try a Test.
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New Zealand are a team long on legends. One of them, Richie McCaw, is hoping to become the first Kiwi to lift the trophy outside his homeland. Another is the golden man of the game who missed his chance in 2011. The greatest fly-half and one of the finest rugby players of this century, Dan Carter has the ability, the aura and the looks to escape the confines of rugby. He also has Aaron Cruden to oust if he is to regain his starting berth. Just don’t bet against him.
The Springboks are one of the few teams with the firepower to scare New Zealand. In young lock-forward Eben Etzebeth they have the Springbok forward of legend to keep the kids awake at night. The arch-enforcer of South African rugby will need to be at his best if they are to reclaim their crown from 2007.
The Pool of Death has heroes in waiting. England face Australia and Wales, with only two of the three able to qualify. If the Wallabies conjure their usual well-timed run, no one is more likely to capture the imagination than Israel Folau. The rugby league convert has speed, size and an uncanny understanding of which running line to take. The sight of Folau in full stride is not one that Wales and England will wish to see.
Australia, however, despite their fine record against Wales, will be wary of the most likely poster boys to emerge from the home nations. Leigh Halfpenny was the face of the Lions tour to Australia in 2013 but the footwork and ferocity of George North also provided many indelible images.
France have a youngster with the potential to grow into a superstar. Gael Fickou has the skill, speed and style to become a big name but he is part of a national team who are not among the favourites.
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One final name and a personal favourite: Mamuka Gorgodze. The Georgian back-row forward will not lift the cup but he will play, as he does in France, with pride, passion and extraordinary determination. There’s a face to summon up what is good with the game.