LOMU MAKES HEINEKEN CUP START

Blues coach David Young said that 30-year-old powerhouse All Blacks star Jonah Lomu will make his Blues debut in the Italian job.

“That is fantastic news for us,” said Rugby Calvisano team manager Deane McKinnel. “There are no soccer matches here on Saturday, which should make a huge difference, and already there are signs that the promise of seeing Jonah is tempting fans.

“Benetton Treviso are away in Round 3 and their coach Craig Green told me that around 200 Treviso fans will be making the two-hour drive to come to our match just to see Jonah. As far as I am aware, that sort of interest is unheard of over here.

“Most of our team are internationals but it will still be great for them to come up against a player of his worldwide reputation and high-profile status.”

Lomu, looking revitalised after a three-year lay off from competitive rugby, was clearly excited about his return to competitive rugby. 

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to playing rugby, and to make my Blues debut in Italy in the Heineken Cup is a special way to start,” said Lomu.

Both Calvisano’s first-choice wings are Test players and the one likely to get the nod for the right wing spot to mark the game’s most famous wearer of the No 11 jersey is likely to be robust Fijian Apenise Vodo ahead of the smaller Italian international Ludovico Nitoglia.

Cardiff Blues: Rhys Williams (capt); Chris Czekaj, Marc Stcherbina, Tristan Davies, Jonah Lomu; Nick Robinson, Mike Phillips; John Yapp, Rhys Thomas, Martin Jones, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush.
Replacements: Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Craig Quinnell, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Ryan Powell, Lee Thomas, Jamie Robinson.