TNT Sports
Lomu makes quiet return
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Published 10/12/2005 at 19:05 GMT
Former New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu came though unscathed in his first competitive game for almost three years on Saturday, helping Cardiff Blues to a 25-10 win over Calvisano in the Heineken Cup. The 30-year-old's comeback one hour before the giant wing
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omu, scorer of a record 15 World Cup tries, has recovered from a kidney transplant and has set his sights on a return to the All Blacks side for the 2007 tournament in France.
"I'm just so pleased to have come through the game and be part of a winning team," Lomu told reporters. "It was great just to be out there playing a sport that I love. It's a privilege to be out there especially after everything that I have been through in the last few months.
"Physically I feel fine and I enjoyed taking the bumps and being involved in a tough game of rugby.
"There was no premeditated plan to come off after an hour but obviously the coaches have their plans and they stick to them. I'm just so happy to have played and I can move forward from here."
Lomu made a telling contribution with his first touch, crashing into the Italian team's defence to start the attack that led to Robert Sidoli scoring the opening try after seven minutes.
Lomu enjoyed the accolade of most dangerous player in world rugby after his man of the tournament displays at the 1995 World Cup, single-handedly demolishing England in the semi-final with his brutal force and pace.
However, he was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal kidney disorder the following year and underwent a kidney transplant in 2004.
He returned to play in Martin Johnson's testimonial at Twickenham only to injure his shoulder, delaying his competitive comeback by a further six months.
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