Lomu’s Last – Wesley College 1st XV 1993

Head Coach: Amanaki Lelei Palavi Captain: Jonah Lomu Players: Craig Kimpton, James Patrick, Taniela Lolohea, George Manu, Lee Hana, Josh Kafu, Mike Butler, Sosaia Fineanganofo, Daniel Fotu, James Anderson, Mike Butler, Craig Campbell, Stuart Price, Tukaha Mua, Daniel Broughton, Kevini Metuisela, Marcus Hyde-Hills, Koula Tukino, Lee Hana, George Manu, Evan Rakena, Joe Bagley, Nathan Stowell, Mateaki Telefoni.

The Numbers
Played: 20
Won: 18
Lost: 2
Points For: 782
Points Against: 209
Average Score: 39-10
Most Points: Josh Kafu, 186
Most Tries: Jonah Lomu, 25
 
Jonah Lomu’s Official Wesley Try Count?
The question of just how many tries Jonah Lomu scored at Wesley College has been the subject of much rumour over the years. The official number I believe is 71. Chris Grinter, Wesley coach from 1985-1991 always kept detailed notes of his teams games. According to those notes Lomu scored 3 tries in 1990 and 13 in 1991. In 1992 Lomu in his autobiography says he scored 30 tries. In 1993 Lomu scored 131 points. Coach Amanak iLelei Palavi told me Lomu kicked two penalties that season, leaving the rest of the points to be achieved in 25 tries. Additionally Lomu was a member of the Wesley sevens team. At the Condor Sevens in 1993 he scored three tries in the semi final against St Kentigern College and four in the final against Te Awamutu College. Scoring tries was something of a habit at Wesley!
 
Legend!
Keith Quinn - A Lucky Man 2000: “Jonah inadvertently gave me my most memorable commentary phrase in the 1995 World Cup semi final against England. I had had an expression ‘all muscle and pump’ in my mind and on the team sheets, which I planned to use to describe the moment when Jonah scored a try in that game- as I was sure he would. But when he picked up a bouncing ball in the first minutes and started knocking over English defenders like nine-pins, I groped in vain for the appropriate phrase to describe the try that he was obviously going to score. I wasn’t ready Jonah! What came out of my mouth was ‘Lomu…oh…oh…!’ as he lunged over. A clear case of being lost for words, for perhaps the only time in my life…That call has come to haunt me in the years since.”

All Blacks Debut: 1994
All Blacks Tests: 63
All Blacks Wins: 44
All Blacks Tries: 37
Most World Cup Tries: 15
Last Test: 2002
First Class Games: 203
First Class Tries: 126

Results

• Weymouth Combined, 37-12
• James Cook High School, 32-0
• Hato Petera College, 45-3
• Manurewa High School, 35-0
• Te Aute College, 15-5
• St Stephens II, 74-5
• Papakura High School, 65-3
• Pukekohe High School, 17-15
• St Stephen's School, 12-14
• Church College, 23-13
• Wesley College II, 97-0
• Rosehill College, 51-10
• Rotorua Boys High School, 43-10
• Papakura High School, 34-11
• Kamo High School, 43-20
• Pukekohe High School, 19-29
• Mount Albert Grammar School, 16-10
• Gisborne Boys' High School, 11-8
• St Paul’s Collegiate School, 13-7
• Old Boys, 100-34

 
Notes

• Won the first round of the Counties Championship unbeaten. This included a victory over Pukekohe High School who held the Moascar Cup at the time.
• Jonah Lomu scored five of the six tries in the 43-10 win against Rotorua. It was Rotorua’s only defeat in 22 games in 1993. What’s more the feat was achieved against a team coached by former Wesley mentor Chris Grinter.
• One of Jonah’s two penalties included an effort from halfway against Te Aute College who Wesley lost to the year before. Te Aute won 17 of 20 games in 1992 and beat World First XV champions New Plymouth Boys' High School.

 

• Won the Condor Sevens and a six day trip to the Gold Coast in Australia.
• Craig Kimpton’s try against Mount Albert Grammar School was reported as the try of the season.
• Won the National Top Four at Rugby Park in Hamilton beating Gisborne Boys' High School and St Paul’s Collegiate. The semi-final against Gisborne was drawn 8-8 at fulltime, Wesley winning with a drop goal in extra time. Wesley actually held the Moascar Cup for three hours, only for the Cup to be given back to Gisborne because the rules of the Moascar Cup prevented extra time being played, strange because the very first match was won in extra time.
• In the final of the Top Four Wesley beat St Paul’s 13-7. Stuart Prince’s tackle on the St Paul’s winger was reported as the tackle of the season. Koula Tukino scored the winning try.
• Every player in the team was given a nickname. Some of the most interesting were: Sosaia Fineanganofo, (Puku) George Manu, (Chaplain) Lee Hana, (Dog) and Jonah Lomu (Sparrow Legs).
• Craig Kimpton, James Patrick, Taniela Lolohea, George Manu, Lee Hana, Josh Kafu, Mike Butler, Sosaia Fineanganofo and Daniel Fotu joined Lomu in the Counties Schools team.
• Jonah Lomu was selected for the New Zealand Schools and selected captain of the Northern and Counties Schools teams. Jonah started for the New Zealand Schools that beat England 51-5 in Dunedin and Australian 32-7 in Rotorua. He was approached by Counties to play for the senior side, but the request was denied.

 
The Captain’s Report: Jonah Lomu
Like my speeches, my summary will also be short, but to the point. The success of the team was only achieved because we were a team.
1993 was the most successful year that Wesley College or any 1st XV has ever had. I feel the success was due to the humility and the standards that our coach, Mr Palavi, has shown throughout the season on and off the field. He has shown to us that rugby is not just a sport but a public relations thing as well, as you meet all kinds of people on and off the field. We have made new and re-kindled many old friends during this long and tense season.
Our key motivation for this year was to play our hearts out and glorify the Lord’s name. The support of family and friends and the student-body was gratefully always helping us to push on onwards.
I would like to thank my two vice-captains, Craig Kimpton and Nela Fotu, for their leadership skills on the field.
The success of 1993 was due to the moulding of the team. I would like to thank all the members of the 1st XV for their effort and hard work.
I do not want to single out one person for what they have done. I feel they all should be praised for their achievements because I feel that it was done as a team not by individuals. The trophies symbolise the achievements of the boys.
To all future players, play the game and enjoy it, because that’s what rugby is all about.

Article originally published on Sky Sport College Rugby

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