Former
All Black winger Jonah Lomu, made a winning return to
rugby on his weekend debut for Marseille-Vitrolles in
Fédérale 1, although he admitted to nerves and trouble
communicating with team-mates.
The
34-year-old’s debut attracted more than 2,500 fans to
Marseille’s 63-18 victory over Montmelian and Lomu – who
failed to get on the scoresheet - said he was just delighted
to be back on the pitch after previously retiring from the
sport due to kidney problems in 2007.
Lomu was
capped 63 times by the All Blacks before a kidney transplant
in 2004 cut short his international career. He subsequently
made abortive comebacks with Cardiff (in 2005-06) and North
Harbour (2007) before appearing to call time on his career.
But the
imposing winger signed for Marseille six months ago and has
been busy trying to get himself in shape for his latest
comeback, even taking up competitive body building in an
effort to improve his fitness and strength.
He said
his biggest problem during Sunday’s game had been
understanding team-mates “who were talking very fast
French”, while Marseille president Claude Archer admitted
that Lomu had been “very tense” before kick off.
“This is
more than a rugby match, it is more about sickness and life.
This is much more than just about rugby,” added Archer.
Lomu
said he was happy to take it one step at a time. “This was
the first match, I was not expecting a miracle,” said the
former All Black. “I was just hoping to do the best possible
under the circumstances. My welcome was extraordinary, as
much from the public as from my team-mates. All the guys
played really well. Everything was really easy for me, all I
had to do was to follow them around the pitch.”
Lomu
will have the chance to hook up with the All Blacks
touring squad this week as they prepare for Saturday’s
international against France in his new home city of
Marseille.
He has
already appeared with them in Tokyo – for the recent
Bledisloe Cup match against Australia – and was present
again on their trip to Milan, and former Hurricanes
team-mate and present All Black Ma’a Nonu said he remained
an inspiration to the present squad.
“He’s still got that respect. The boys hold
him in high regard. He’s always going to be a legend in
every kid’s eyes,” said the New Zealand centre.
“Jonah’s
one of those big fellas that looks after the young guys. He
used to live in Maupuia (Wellington), the big orange house
on the hill. That was Jonah’s castle. I just lived down the
road in Miramar and he used to pick me up for training. I
was pretty luck… he had a few nice cars too.”
Nonu
described Lomu as “a big giant that’s always friendly” and
said he was delighted to the former international back on a
rugby pitch following his weekend debut for
Marseille-Vitrolles.
“It’s
great. We saw when he got sick that was a shame because we
having a good season for the Hurricanes in 2003. Now him and
his bodybuilding, it’s just great to see,” he added.
Meanwhile, Stade Toulousain winger Cédric Heymans,
30, has won a belated call-up to the French squad for
Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with the All Blacks in
Marseille.
Heymans
played for ‘Les Bleus’ in their
20-13 victory over South Africa
two weeks ago but was omitted from the squad for Saturday’s
43-5 trouncing of Samoa. He
was then overlooked for weekend squad against New Zealand
despite Bayonne winger Benjamin Fall having to withdraw
after picking up an injury on debut against Samoa.
Club
colleague Yann David was initially retained in his place –
after being overlooked in the centres in favour of David
Marty, Maxime Mermoz and Yannick Jauzion - but head coach
Marc Lièvremont was finally forced to turn to Heymans after
Perpignan centre Mermoz was also forced out (by a thigh
injury).
Lièvremont has also lost the services of number eight Louis
Picamoles and veteran flanker Imanol Harinordoquy, but he
received better news concerning scrum-half Morgan Parra
after the Clermont No 9 was given the all-clear on a groin
niggle.
France squad for New Zealand
Forwards: Fabien Barcella
(Biarritz), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas
(Perpignan), Thomas Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), Dimitri
Szarzewski (Stade Francais), William Servat (Stade
Toulousain), Romain Millo-Chluski (Stade Toulousain),
Sébastien Chabal (Racing-Metro 92), Lionel Nallet
(Racing-Metro 92), Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain,
cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Julien Bonnaire
(Clermont Auvergne), Julien Puricelli (Bayonne)
Backs: Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais), Morgan Parra
(Clermont Auvergne), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier),
Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), David Marty (Perpignan),
Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Yann David (Stade
Toulousain), Cédric Heymans (Stade Toulousain) Damien
Traille (Biarritz), Maxime Médard (Stade Toulousain)
