"We’re Just Going to Cheat" Cullen Comments on Springboks vs All Blacks While Reminiscing a story

Christian Cullen recently took a  nostalgic trip down memory lane,   sharing his experiences with the legendary  Jonah Lomu, his former All Blacks teammate,   and one of the most iconic figures in  rugby history. Lomu, who tragically   passed away at just 40 years old in 2015,  remains a towering figure in the sport,   remembered as rugby’s first global superstar.  His dominance on the field, particularly in   the early stages of his international career, was  unmatched, making him a nightmare for opponents. Please Like, Subscribe, Share  and Comment to support us. Lomu’s immense physical presence, combined  with his astonishing speed and power,   made him almost impossible to stop, especially  for teams like Cullen’s Hurricanes. At the time,   Lomu was playing for the Blues, and the prospect  of facing him on the field was daunting. Cullen,   in a candid and humorous moment, revealed  the lengths his team went to in trying to   neutralize Lomu’s threat. During an episode of  The Good, The Bad and The Rugby ANZ podcast,   Cullen recounted how they devised a plan to  ‘cheat’ in order to stop Lomu. His teammate   Tana Umaga, tasked with marking the powerhouse  wing, suggested they had to resort to unorthodox   methods, such as getting offside and closing  down Lomu as quickly as possible. The fear   was real – they didn’t want to give Lomu  the space he needed to build up momentum,   as even a 20-meter run-up would be enough  for him to wreak havoc on their defense. Lomu’s unparalleled strength, coupled  with his explosive acceleration,   made him a force to be reckoned with. Julian  Savea, another rugby great, was often compared   to Lomu, but as Cullen pointed out, Lomu’s prime  was on another level. When Lomu ran at defenders,   it wasn’t just about power; it was also about the  speed and precision with which he executed his   moves. This combination of size and agility  was what truly set Lomu apart from others. Justin Marshall, another former All Blacks  teammate, shared his own memories of facing   Lomu in the Super 12. As a scrum-half, Marshall  wisely tried to keep his distance from the wing,   but even he couldn’t help but marvel at Lomu’s  extraordinary abilities. Marshall emphasized   that Lomu’s acceleration over short distances  was what made him so dangerous – once he got   moving, he was virtually unstoppable. The  legendary wing's ability to combine power,   speed, and agility made him a  unique and formidable opponent,   forever cementing his place as  one of rugby’s greatest players.