Lomu still laughs at England

Mike Catt has long since stopped watching the video. He certainly did not buy the T-shirt and the England full-back should probably also resist the temptation to strike up a conversation the next time he bumps into Jonah Lomu.

New Zealand's man mountain of a wing is not the most talkative of men but mention Catt's name and Lomu's usually stone expression cracks into a broad grin as the words suddenly tumble out.

The unexpected banter would be painful listening for Catt, in particular, and any other of his England team-mates humiliated by Lomu and the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-final at Newlands a little over a year ago, when Lomu ran in four tries in the 45-29 destruction of Jack Rowell's side.

The decisive moment came within seconds of the start when Lomu battered his way past Tony Underwood and through Catt to score. From then on the result was never in doubt.

So it will be galling for Catt to hear Lomu insist that it was only thanks to him that he ever scored the try which became the trade mark for his barrelling wing play. Forcing back a chuckle, Lomu said: "I'm really not kidding. I should never have scored. In fact, I'm still not sure how I got over the line. It was pure luck but I know one thing - I would never had made it if it hadn't been for Mike Catt.

"When I ran through Tony Underwood's tackle I completely lost my balance. I could feel my legs going from under me, only my forward motion carried me over the tackle.

"There was nothing I could do. I knew I was going to fall flat on my face. For an instant I thought about unloading the ball, then Catt hit me and knocked me up, straightening my legs.

"That gave me the impetus I needed and pushed me over the line. Without Catt's hit I would never have got to the line. I've met him a couple of times since. He's a good guy so I haven't had the heart to tell him.

"To be honest that wasn't the best try I scored in the game. That came early in the second half. I got on the end of a really good move and that gave me more satisfaction.

"I can't really remember too much about the game. In fact, my lasting memory was when we ran down the tunnel, out on to the pitch. All I could see were hundreds of English flags and shirts in the crowd. That really fired me up."

Lomu was back at Newlands yesterday for the first time since that day, for the Test against South Africa, but sadly for everyone except the Springboks, only as a spectator. A worsening injury to his left knee, which caused his withdrawal from the ever-improving All Blacks team, has left a question mark over his immediate international career.

"The knee is giving me a great deal of trouble," Lomu said. "I damaged the medial ligaments against Scotland earlier in the season and I've had a problem running flat out ever since. It is worrying because I can't straighten my left leg. I can walk, no problem, but I simply can't run properly.

"I had hoped that the injury would clear up by now but for some reason it just hasn't improved. The leg needs rest but right now I can't afford to take off any time. I want to play in every international and that means I've got to be prepared to put up with the pain.

"That doesn't really bother me because playing for the All Blacks has always been very important to me. I'll just try to get through these four Tests against South Africa and hope the off-season gives me the time to heal up. I want to avoid an operation if I can. But only time will tell. Perhaps, in the end, that may be my only option."

The injury apart, Lomu believes he is still improving with every game. At 21 he argues that his best years are yet to come.

"When I played in the World Cup I was very young and very raw," he said. "Guys like Walter Little and Frank Bunce did a lot of spade work to give me the room to run down the wing.

"Since then I've learnt a bit more about international football. Now I cut back inside far more than I used to, and that means I'm creating opportunities for other guys around me.

"I set up a good try for our scrum-half, Justin Marshall, in our recent win over Australia in Brisbane. In many ways that gave me more pleasure than scoring myself.

"I'm sure, once I get fully fit again I'll start to get even better. I know I still have a lot of room for improvement."

That is clearly bad news for the rest of world rugby. England and Mike Catt have been warned.