As the world comes to terms with the news that iconic rugby great Jonah Lomu has passed away at the age of 40, many have been paying tribute to and sharing memories of the All-Black legend.
On tonight's Wednesday Night Rugby on Off The Ball, we were joined by former Australia fly-half Michael Lynagh, ex-Ireland captain Keith Wood and The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley to share their thoughts on a powerful athlete in the physical and symbolic sense.
"I was in a way lucky to witness the start of his international career but I was also lucky not to have to physically play against him," said Lynagh, who also touched on his gentleness.
"We got knocked out by England in the 1995 World Cup quarter-final and England went on to play New Zealand. Thankfully I avoided playing against him but I was like everybody else, in awe of his physical prowess on the rugby field. He changed the sport."
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Posted by Off The Ball on Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Keith spoke of Lomu's humility and how that manifested itself.
"He was kind of like a reverse larger-than-life figure because he was unbelievably huge but his personality was unbelievably humble. He always had time for other people. He always had time for other people. He was, I think in many ways, embarrassed by his fame, by the fact that he was on the world stage so very, very quickly," said Keith.
"I played against him a few times. He played like he had a force-field around him. You get into a good position and you know you're going to hit him and you know you're going to tackle him right and then you're back on your ass.
"But he was a very gentle soul and I think when you see a contemporary or a peer younger than you passing away, I think that's quite disturbing and frightening."
