All Black great Jonah Lomu scored his first try for Cardiff as they crushed Welsh rivals Newport-Gwent Dragons 41-23 in their Celtic League clash at the Arms Park on Tuesday.
The giant New Zealand wing crossed the Dragons’ line in the first minute of the second-half, scoring in his third appearance for the Welsh capital side, to the delight of the bulk of a Celtic League record crowd of 12 436.
Lomu (30) is in the midst of a return to professional rugby after suffering from what many thought would be a career-ending kidney illness which led to a transplant in July last year.
His ultimate aim is to return to the New Zealand squad in time for the 2007 World Cup in France.
Lomu made his name at the 1995 World Cup where his strength and speed helped him become the most iconic rugby union player of his era and has recently been training in Wales with British Olympic sprint champion Darren Campbell.
Cardiff went on to finish with six tries and a vital bonus point.
Flyhalf Nick Robinson claimed 16 points in his 100th match for club and region as the Blues completed a Christmas double, having beaten fellow Welsh outfit Neath-Swansea Ospreys last week.
The Dragons made the best possible start with a Nathan Brew try after only 18 seconds of play, another Celtic League record.
But after that it was one-way traffic as the Blues took control.
Robinson kicked two penalty goals and converted his own try after a brilliant opportunist effort.
Craig Morgan took full advantage of a huge overlap to claim the Blues second try and on the brink of half-time Ryan Powell added another.
The Dragons were living off scraps of possession and relied on two penalty goals from Wales international Ceri Sweeney for their next points.
Lomu’s try sparked an action-packed second half. Hooker Rhys Thomas’s try for the Blues was cancelled out by one from his namesake for the visitors.
Jon Bryant added another for the Dragons before Rhys Williams completed the scoring with the Blues’ sixth try 20 minutes from the end. – Sapa-AFP