Super Rugby
Waratahs ace dismisses Lomu comparison
May 11, 2015
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Giant NSW Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has played down comparisons with his childhood idol Jonah Lomu following his sensational try at the weekend. The Fiji-born powerhouse provided one of the few highlights of the Waratahs' loss to Western Force on Saturday when he stopped to pick up a loose pass behind him then burst through four tackles to score on a 40-metre sideline run.

It brought comparisons with All Blacks great Lomu's famous tackle-busting try against England at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa but a modest Naiyaravoro dismissed that.

"He [Lomu] was a huge idol for me," said Naiyaravoro on Monday. "I have just been hearing things comparing me with him but I am nowhere near him."

Naiyaravoro, who came across from the West Tigers NRL club last year, said teammate and fellow code hopper Israel Folau had boosted his confidence in his speed and his 120kg-plus frame. Naiyaravoro has developed into a major drawcard for the Waratahs and he was reluctant to comment on reports linking him to Scottish team Edinburgh for next season.

He missed the Waratahs' games in New Zealand due to a visa problem, but he was optimistic it would be fixed before the team's upcoming matches in South Africa. He is awaiting permanent residency status which would qualify him to play for the Wallabies.

© AAP

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