Jonah Lomu Rugby
Walkthrough and Strategy Guide
by Dane Armstrong
Copyright 2005 Dane Armstrong
Started 24/05/2005
Contents:
Copyright and Legal Information
Contact Information
Background Information
Basic Controls
Advanced Controls
Game Rules
Strategies
- Set Pieces
Scrums
Lineouts
Penalties
Classic Matches
Ending
Copyright Information
This may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private
use. It may not be placed on any website or otherwise distributed pulicily
without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other website
or as a part of any public disply is strictly prohibited, and a violation of
copyright.
Contact Information:
Dane Armstrong
darm022@ec.auckland.ac.nz
Background Information:
Hi, I live in NewZealand which is a very rugby orientated country, since it is
our national game and all. I recently borrowed this game off a mate of mine
(cheers Glenn) and have decided upon finishing it to write a FAQ/Walkthrough
for it. Email me at darm022@ec.auckland.ac.nz if you have any ideas, questions,
suggestions etc for this FAQ/Walkthrough or any comments about the game itself.
Basic Controls:
Directional Button Move your player around
Triangle Sprint
Circle Attack: Drop Goal
Defence: High tackle to hold up player
X Attack: Punt
Defence: Low tackle to take player to the ground
Square Change player manually
L1 Short pass to player's left
L2 Long pass to player's left
R1 Short pass to player's right
R2 Long pass to player's right
Advanced Controls
L1 + L2 Fend to the left of the player
R1 + R2 Fend to the right of the player
Square + Pass Button Throws a dummy pass in a direction depending on which
pass button is used.
L1 + R1 Side step in the horizontal direction relative to
which way you are running.
Hold pass button &
release when tackled Allows you to offload when you've just been tackled
Tap Circle Puts a grubber kick along the ground through
Face behind and push X Puts a high bomb into the air which players can chase
Game Rules:
Offside You cannot be in front of the ruck before the ball is out
Late/Early Tackle You cannot tackle a player before he has the ball, or
after the player has passed or kicked the ball. Also
you cannot tackle opposition players if they are in the
air jumping for the ball.
Rucks/Mauls If you take too long in clearing the ball from a ruck or
maul then the opposition will be awarded a scrum.
Strategies
- Set Pieces
Scrums Begin by pressing square as soon as the ball is placed in
the scrum, as this should help from your team being pushed
backwards as they will dig in. Next, around every second,
push circle to drive forward. If timed right you should be
able to win the scrum, and then even be able to drive
forward for some valuable metres. By using this tactic
you should be able to win at least 50% of scrums, even when
you are playing against the best sides in the game.
Lineouts This is my favourite set piece as its easy to win and
through it you can gain valuable metres. As the circle moves
back through your lineout press square when it gets to the
second to last person. When it next gets to that same person
press x to throw it. Move your player forward a little and
then use cirlce to jump and catch the ball. Hopefully your
player will be held up by the opposition in the tackle and
using the technique discussed above you can drive forward
for lots of valuable metres.
To win the opposition's lineouts there is two ways which
you can use, depending on where in the field the lineout
is taking place. The first way is when the lineout is
outside the opposition's 22. Use the same technique for
lineouts as discussed above and you should be able to win
almost all of them. The second way is when the lineout is
in the opposition's 22. Instead of pressing square on the
second to last guy in the lineout, press it on the fourth
guy. Generally the opposition will throw it short, and you
can jump and catch the ball using the same lineout method
as before, and since you are close to the line you can now
have a very good chance of scoring.
Penalties This all depends on where you are on the field, how much
time is left on the clock, what the score is, and who you
are playing against. So its entirely up to your judgement.
My only advice is if its 50/50, take the points on offer.
Classic Matches
-Classic Match 1
NewZealand vs South Africa
Score: 9-9
Situation:
NewZealand has to win in this extra time battle. Starts at the kickoff.
How to do it:
Easy, Just get to Lomu out wide, use fend, and he should do the job for you.
If he gets tackled just win the ruck and spin it wide to Wilson, who with his
pace should be able to run for the corner and score. Another way is to force
lineouts down South Africa's end of the field, win them, and drive for a try,
get a drop goal lined up, or spin it wide. Overall it should take hardly any
tries at all to do this one.
-Classic Match 2
Wales vs Ireland
Score: 21-16
Situation:
Wales has to at least draw the game to progress through. Ireland has a lineout
30m from your line.
How to do it:
Another easy match. Use the same tactics as above and you should find that you
will get the necessary points, plus probably a few more just to act as a
buffer.
-Classic Match 3
Australia vs Ireland
Score: 23-20
Situation:
Australia has to win and they have a penalty on the Irish 22.
How to do it:
Is it just me or is it getting easier??? There are two ways to do this. The
safest way is to take the penalty (which you should easily put over) and then
use your speed out wide to outpace the Irish and score. The other way is to
just go for the try, whaich again just needs you to go wide and run it.
-Classic Match 4
England vs Australia
Score: 22-19
Situation:
England needs to win to go to the semi-finals. Scrum on Australian 22.
How to do it:
This one is slightly harder as Australia are good, but again you've got major
pace on the wing with guys like Sleightholme. Go towards one side of the
field and spin it to the other. You will be scoring in no time. Don't forget
to use fend.
-Classic Match 5
South Africa vs France
Score: 19-15
Situation
South Africa has to hold on to win against the French. Scrum right on South
Africa's 5m.
How to do it:
Use the technique listed above for winning scrums, and if you do win it punt
it miles down field, preferably out so you can attempt to win the lineout. If
you lose the scrum and France scores, just use the wingers like Saint Andre
to score tries, or Lacroix to kick drop goals. Either way it wont be hard
after a few goes at it.
-Classic Match 6
England vs Australia
Situation
England needs to score a converted try to win the World Cup. Scrum on
England's 22.
How to do it:
Is this just basically a repeat of Classic Match 4? Same technique, same
result. Use the same techniques as you have used before, as in one or two
goes its onto the next match.
-Classic Match 7
France vs NewZealand
Situation:
France needs to score three converted tries to win the World Cup. Lineout 5m
into French territory.
How to do it:
Finally, a match which actually causes some trouble. As you only have 6
minutes to do this there is no use going for drop goals. Use the option of
kicking for touch and getting lineouts followed by drives to score, otherwise
spin it wide and fend. By using a combination of the two it'll be onto the
final match in a short period of time. Just keep tight on defence and work
hard on the rucks to gain possession of the ball.
Classic Match 8
Japan vs NewZealand
Score: 24-3
Situation:
Japan is looking to beat NewZealand but are down by 21 points. They have 20
minutes to turn the game around. Begins at kickoff.
How to do it:
This is it, the hardest match, and the only one which can be called a
challenge. Japan is outpaced basically everywhere, they hold onto the ball
like a wet bar of soap, and overall they're rubbish and deserved the
thrashing they got in real life. But now you got to turn that all around.
Okay first off kick the ball down into the left hand corner where NewZealand
will take a mark and kick it out for a lineout. Now depending on where the
lineout is there are three methods which can be used. Follow these carefully!
Method 1 - The lineout is quite far into their 22. Use the lineout technique
with the second to last guy, and hopefully you'll be able to drive it forward
in the maul and score. If not and a ruck forms you can try and run it with
your halfback around the scrum and dive for the line. Otherwise if NewZealand
get it they will kick it back out again.
Method 2 - The lineout is approximately on the 22. Again use the same lineout
technique and drive forward, but this time drive on the angle towards the
posts. Get as far as you can before passing once to the gut closest to the
posts and taking a drop goal. Most of the time if you are quick you will
get the easy three points.
Method 3 - The lineout is out beyond NewZealand's 22. Again, same lineout
technique and drive. When the drive is stopped, pass it once to the guy
closest to you on the open side of the field (who is usaually are good kicker
of the ball) and use him to aim for the touchline on the opposite side of the
field. This way there is a lineout which you have a good chance of winning,
and if NewZealand wins it they will kick it out from where you will be able
to have the chance to score points. So its a win-win situation although it
is better to win the lineout.
These methods, with some practice do work, as through them I was able to beat
NewZealand 47-24 scoring five tries, five conversions, and three drop goals.
Just keep trying and you will eventually win. Remember to keep the defence
tight and aim to push over the rucks. Don't try and stand in the backline
due to their being no offsides, its a waste of time, as even if you do tackle
the guy, the NewZealand players will be there way before your guys and you
won't get a chance to win the ruck. Also never try anything until all the
NewZealand players are onside. Since there are no offsides they'll lie at
the back of the ruck for ages and if you decide to try and run it when they
get up they have no qualms about tackling you. Don't use bombs. They are also
useless as your guys never get under them in time. Never, I repeat, never try
to run it. You will lose it every single time before you even get near the
line.
Ending
As this is my first FAQ I'd appreciate any hints or tips that readers of this
would give me. Also I would like to hear from anyone who just wants to talk
about the game. Jonah Lomu Rugby is a classic and should still provide a
good way to challenge your mates for a few more years yet.
I'd like to say thanks to:
Glenn Burrill for lending me the game
Adam Bell for his walkthrough on the game which first got me interested in
writing one of my own.
