Cardiff overcome 20-minute red card to seal win on opening day

Cardiff overcame a 20-minute red card for Wales centre Ben Thomas to start life without Matt Sherratt with a 33-20 victory over the Lions at the Arms Park.

Spending a quarter down to 14 men derailed Cardiff in Corniel van Zyl's first game in charge, letting an 11-point lead slip as the South African side took the lead in the second-half. However, the home side always had too much for the Lions.

The week had begun with the players being informed that head coach Sherratt was leaving with immediate effect to take up a role with Steve Tandy's Wales.

The news probably didn't come as all that much of a surprise, given how long Sherratt has been linked with the job. But the concern would have been what effect this might have on the squad.

It didn't seem to affect the Blue and Blacks in the early stages, with it taking just nine minutes for Wales centre Thomas to open the scoring.

After a big dent by Javan Sebastian and some deft hands shortened up the Lions' defence, Thomas was able to step through to score.

The boot of Lions fly-half Lubabalo Dobela got the South African side on the scoreboard, but soon it was Cardiff celebrating another try.

More slick hands from touchline to touchline created space for wings Tom Bowen and Josh Adams to make inroads.

And as the Arms Park side moved it back to the left flank, Adams - having looked back to his best in Japan this summer - popped up on the opposite wing to put Wales full-back Cam Winnett over in the corner.

The Lions managed to cross the whitewash as back-row Ruan Venter forced his way over from close range.

However, that didn't seem to matter too much when opposite number Taine Basham dotted down in his competitive debut for Cardiff.

After Adams was dragged down short, the Wales flanker