Jonah Lomu was already the player of the 1995 World Cup before the semi-final against Will Carling’s much-fancied England side took place on this day, June 18th 1995, 30 years ago.
But over 80 minutes in Cape Town, he produced one of the greatest individual performances rugby has ever seen with an astonishing four-try haul to announce himself as a global superstar.
It famously led to him starring in a Pizza Hut advert with Tony Underwood, whom he had physically dominated, along with his brother, Rory and their mother.
But what became of the All Black side that won 45-29 at Newlands before losing the final 15-12 to South Africa at Ellis Park?
Neil Fissler tracks down the players who took to the field in black that day.
15. Glen Osbourne: The full-back became a television presenter on Maori TV, but joined the police when he was 44 and is now a community constable in Waverley, South Taranaki.
14. Jeff Wilson: The winger also played cricket for his country and now has a successful career in broadcasting and the media. His wife, Adine Harper, is a former Silver Fern netball captain.
13. Frank Bunce: A centre, who also played for Western Samoa, coached Italy for two years and is now coaching Papakura Rugby Football Club and is a popular celebrity speaker in Auckland.
12. Walter Little: The centre is working as a scaffolder after establishing Little Scaffolding in Silverdale, Auckland, following his retirement from playing in 2002. His nephew is former Fijian international Nicky Little.
11. Jonah Lomu: The winger made millions during his playing career, but divorces, medical bills and failed business ventures saw him lose most of it before his death from a heart attack, related to kidney disease, in November 2015.
10. Andrew Mehrtens: A fly-half who became the NSW Waratahs kicking coach and has worked in private banking and asset management as well as guesting as a television commentator. He is now the President of Béziers Rugby Club.
9. Graeme Bachop: A scrum-half, he is now back living in Fendalton, Christchurch, after spending eight years in Japan. Is a director of Bachop Builders, having worked in the building trade before turning professional.
1. Craig Dowd: A prop who is a former builder, has had various business interests since leaving the game, including player management and is now a director of sports strapping tape firm D3 Tape.
2. Sean Fitzpatrick: Hooker and captain whose father, Brian, was an All Black. Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy for the last 25 years.
3. Olo Brown: A prop, who worked as an accountant even after rugby turned professional, and is still living in Auckland, where he has worked in private equity and is Head of Investor Relations at Punakaiki Fund.
4. Ian Jones: The lock has been a mortgage advisor with Baileys Financial in Auckland, and also a television broadcaster, and is the General Manager of the All Blacks Experience.
5. Robin Brooke: The younger brother of Zinzan. Lives in Auckland, where he’s previously owned supermarkets in Tauranga and Warkworth. He has also worked in the building industry and been a property developer.
6. Mike Brewer: The back rower, who has coached Scotland and Sale Sharks. Lives in Miramar, Wellington, where he runs a property investment firm and an Oceanographic surveying service.
7. Josh Kronfeld: The flanker has appeared on celebrity TV shows and is a qualified physiotherapist, working for a practice in an Auckland suburb.
8. Zinzan Brooke: Has had multiple business interests, including clothing, recruitment and construction, along with owning a B&B establishment in Windsor, Berkshire.
Reserve:
Blair Larsen: A former policeman who once owned a milk distribution business. He now runs a drug detection agency franchise in Auckland.
