News

Cullen gives former team some tips

May 21 2008

All Blacks legend Christian Cullen says the Hurricanes need to beat the Crusaders at their own attacking game when the two New Zealand heavyweights go head-to-head in Saturday's Super 14 semi-final in Christchurch.

Both teams head into the play-offs on the back of a defeat, the Hurricanes losing to the Blues and the Crusaders going down to the lowly Highlanders.

Cullen, who scored two tries in a 41-29 win against the Crusaders in 2001 (the only time the Hurricanes have won in Christchurch), said his former team could learn a lot from the Highlanders' performance - attack.

"They are the champions and they know how to win down there, so they are a hard team to crack," Cullen told the Dominion Post.

"The Highlanders put pressure on them and attacked. That's how you beat them.

"I don't think we attacked them enough when we played them earlier in the year, so hopefully this time we can hold onto the ball and give it to our strike runners and have a crack at them."

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper made a big call when he replaced Jimmy Gopperth with Wille Ripia halfway through the season. Cullen believes the move was inspired.

"Willie's a young fella and he gets the back-line going," said Cullen.

"You need that [confidence]. It's unfortunate he didn't get one of those drop goals at the weekend, but another day they will go over."

Cullen said the Hurricanes would have no trouble getting up for a match he said was always the one he looked forward to most as a player.

"We loved playing the Crusaders, or I did," he said.

"They were the team to beat. It was like when the Auckland [Blues] team were at their top and everyone wanted to beat them. I suppose it's like the All Blacks - when they are on top everyone wants to knock them off.

"If you beat the Crusaders, you know you've had a good day at the office."