Rugby: Hurricanes heading for new experience

The Hurricanes' clash with the Highlanders this weekend will mark the first time most of Mark Hammett's men have played at an indoor stadium. Photo / Getty Images.

If you see a few of the Hurricanes players yelling at each other at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night don't confuse it for disharmony among themselves.

There's a better chance that the men in yellow just can't hear each other in the midst of Dunedin's loud indoor venue.

The Hurricanes' clash with the Highlanders this weekend will mark the first time most of Mark Hammett's men have played at an indoor stadium and one of the major differences to a traditional ground is the enhanced level of noise.

"It's certainly a new experience," Hammett said. "And I know that it's noisy, we've been recommended that we have a couple of other options up our sleeve in terms of getting calls out there. It is difficult around communication. We are certainly going to go and visit the ground when we get down there tomorrow (fri) so the guys see it. I suggest most haven't played indoors before, so it'll be a new experience but it'll be a good one."

One Hurricane who has played in an enclosed venue is centre Conrad Smith who has taken the field at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in Wales.

"I think the roof's been closed every time I've played there and I've played there a few times and absolutely loved it," he said.

"So if it's anywhere close to that it'll be a great venue."

The capacity of Forsyth Barr is only around 30,000 compared to the 74,500 that Millennium Stadium can house, but Smith, who has only practiced at the Dunedin venue, said the noise increase was still noticeable to an outdoor arena.

"We did train [at Forsyth Barr] during the World Cup. I think we were the first to run around on it as a team and it was loud and there was only 50 people there ... From what I make of it it's a great place to play."

There's also the added din from student fan zone known as "The Zoo", which was created to spark in interest in rugby to Otago University goers following Carisbrook's demise.

It has proved a hit and regularly has plenty of boisterous fans on board who have watched the Highlanders compile a seven-win three-loss record this season, which is good for sixth place on the Super Rugby ladder.

The 5-5 Hurricanes meanwhile are four points further back in eighth spot as their six bonus points have kept them in touch with the top six.

Victory for the Hurricanes this weekend would provide their push for the playoffs with some much-needed impetus and would flow on from their 35-19 win they scored against the woeful Blues last Friday.

Hammett has named rookie prop Reg Goodes to start at loosehead with the giant Ben May moving to tighthead as Jeffery Toomaga-Allen drops to the bench.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has something of a loose-forward injury crisis on his hands with Nick Crosswell, Doug Tietjens, John Hardie and Elliot Dixon all unavailable, while English import James Haskell is suspended.

Former Southland player Hale T-Pole could be selected in the No 7 jersey after the 33-year-old was added to the squad as injury cover recently, although Adam Thomson could shift to the openside of the scrum, while Tim Boys is also in the mix.

Joseph is set to name his team tomorrow (fri) and kick-off is at 7.35pm on Saturday.

Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (c), Tim Bateman, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Faifili Levave, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brad Shields, Jack Lam, Chris Eaton, Tusi Pisi, Alapati Leiua.

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