Rugby: Cullen: don't be overawed by the tense atmosphere

Hurricanes fullback Christian Cullen fondly remembers his brilliant match two years ago at Newlands in Cape Town, and says his team's new players on Monday morning should not be overawed by the ground's incredible atmosphere.

Newlands will have a full house - 52,000 people - when the Hurricanes and the Stormers take the park for their Super 12 match. The crowd will be in sweeping stands starting just seven or eight metres from the touchlines.

The atmosphere is arguably the most intimidating in the rugby world - more so than Johannesburg's Ellis Park, which holds 20,000 more.

Facing their first starts at the ground are front-rowers Tama Tuirirangi, Kevin Yates and Shane Carter, inside backs Jason Spice and David Holwell, and wings Daryl Lilley and Brad Fleming.

"The new guys will relish the occasion if they just soak it all in gradually. Most of them have been around long enough to take it all in, and there are the senior guys around to settle them down," Cullen said.

Cullen himself takes on a major responsibility in the game, both on attack and defence, because his usual wingers, Tana Umaga and Jonah Lomu, will not be there.

"But Daryl Lilley, Brad Fleming and myself were together in Hamilton against the Chiefs and things went pretty well there," Cullen said.

The fullback has played two All Black tests and two Super 12 matches at Newlands, and was in brilliant running form when the Hurricanes won 45-31 over the Stormers in 1998.

Lilley, playing on the right wing, has never marked Springbok test wing Pieter Roussouw but is looking forward to the clash.

"Each time the Crusaders have played the Stormers, I've been on the bench. He's got a lot of speed and scores lots of tries - it'll be a matter of trying to stick with him and cut down his space," Lilley said.

Lilley was unconcerned that the side were missing key players for the match.

"Sure we've lost a couple of players, but this squad is strong right through the 26. We're going to have the same backline as we did when we beat the Chiefs - Brad [Fleming] and I had to step up then, and we have to do so again."

The Hurricanes team will be named today, with their final make-up depending on whether captain Norm Hewitt, who is battling a calf injury, shapes up at training.

Prop Mike Edwards is still struggling with his calf muscle injury and is a only a 50-50 chance of playing. However, No 8 Gordon Falcon is expected to be named.

The Hurricanes need a win to maintain their push for a semifinals spot.

- NZPA