Lomu and Cullen knock on wood

It's one of the more remarkable statistics of the rugby world, but not that well-known.

Between them, All Black stars Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu have played 13 seasons and 334 matches of first-class rugby - and knocked up just one Ranfurly Shield match.

Lomu has that, a 21-11 Counties loss to Waikato in Hamilton in 1999.

When Cullen runs out in the Wellington No. 15 jersey in Christchurch tomorrow, it will be his first taste of shield rugby in 173 first-class matches.

"So finally I've got a challenge," Cullen said yesterday. "It would be awesome to win it, because the chance doesn't come around very often."

Ask Lomu whether the shield still has magic and he answers: "Don't know, because we haven't had our hands on it. Now we have that chance."

Lomu's only shield challenge was remarkable for including probably his only attempt to land a penalty in a first-class game.

It was from well out, the teams were roughly level at the time, and no one volunteered on the wet, muddy ground.

"I had a place kick, that's about all I remember from the match," Lomu said.

"I said, 'I'll take it, I'll have a crack.' And it just missed."

- NZPA