EDF Energy Cup - : Rugby legend Lomu predicts added spice in EDF Energy Cup

Jonah Lomu in action during his time with Cardiff Blues

Rugby legend Lomu predicts added spice in EDF Energy Cup

31 October 2007, 4:42 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Former All Black Jonah Lomu believes there will be added spice in this season�s EDF Energy Cup after England�s heroics in the Rugby World Cup finals.

Speaking as his former side Cardiff Blues prepare to take on EDF Energy Cup holders Leicester Tigers in the live BBC televised game in round two of the competition on Saturday, the 6ft 5in winger says his Welsh team-mates were always happy to talk about their English counterparts and the famous Anglo-Welsh rivalry.

“The Welsh lads were always telling me about it, what it means to play the English and beat the English. The competitiveness that comes out in these games – it’s fantastic as a player and for the fans in the build up and of course in the game itself,” he said.

The New Zealander, who is still the youngest ever player to make his All Black’s test debut at just 19, believes this season’s EDF Energy Cup could be the best yet because of England’s Rugby World Cup performance.

He said: “There’s no better satisfaction than knowing that you have beaten the best teams around. If you are looking for added spice, that extra energy which comes from wanting to beat players who made it to the World Cup Final, then you are going to get it in the EDF Energy Cup, because you’ve got the Welsh lining up against the English.”
While Cardiff Blues travel to Leicester Tigers for their round two match on Saturday, Llanelli Scarlets are at home to Leeds Carnegie on Friday (Nov 2). Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday (Nov 3) and Ospreys entertain London Irish on Sunday (Nov 4).

The EDF Energy Cup was the highest scoring top-level domestic competition per game last season, with an average five tries per match. Last weekend, 307 points were scored in the eight ties, averaging over 38 points a game.

This season, round one kicked off last week when holders Leicester Tigers lost 20-14 at Bath. Just one of the four Welsh sides lost against English teams last week, with Cardiff Blues, who last year lost to Ospreys in an all-Welsh semi-final, beating Sale Sharks 32-15, Ospreys winning at Worcester Warriors 16-47, Newport Gwent Dragons drawing 3-3 with London Wasps, and Llanelli Scarlets losing 18-11 at Bristol.

Lomu, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, added: “It’s amazing what EDF Energy has done in terms of the EDF Energy Cup and breathing new life into it – it’s fantastic.”

The match between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers, at Leicester, is being shown live by the BBC, Saturday November 3, kick off 2.30pm. On Friday, Llanelli Scarlets’ game against Leeds Carnegie, is being shown live by BBC Wales, kick off 7.10pm.