Bemusement at Lomu's All Black omission
by Huw Turner
June 11, 2001

Wayne Smith's decision to go into Saturday's test match against Manu Samoa without his star winger has raised more than the odd hackle in New Zealand on the Monday following the announcement.

Smith justified the decision on the grounds that his talents are well known and that the game was an opportunity for Jeff Wilson and Doug Howlett to show their paces. Perhaps Jonah is really paying the price for an extended stay in the UK, where he turned out for the Barbarians on their tour and the New Zealand sevens side in the Twickenham leg of the tournament. But the clear impression had been given by the NZRFU that they had sanctioned Lomu's absence, in which case his being overlooked seems a contradiction.

Jonah's manager, Welshman Phil Kingsley-Jones, confessed to being ' bemused' by the decision and affirmed that his client is fit, in good form and ready to add to his tally of All Black jerseys. From Smith's perspective the 'resting' of Lomu may be in the player's best interests. With players and coaches clamouring for something to be done about fixture congestion and player burn-out, perhaps the big man is being saved for some of the bigger battles ahead- in particular the Tri Nations series against Australia and South Africa.Only time will really tell.

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