The atmosphere is electric at Loftus Versfeld, writes Rupert Guinness in Cape Town.

When Waratahs prop Al Baxter first played at Loftus Versfeld, perhaps the world’s most intimidating stadium, he got the fright of his life – literally.

It happened 10 years ago, on his Super 12 debut, as he sat on the Waratahs reserves bench while Matt Burke prepared to kick for goal.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning burst from the heavens and struck the end of the grandstand. After hearing all the anecdotes that have been passed on from year to year between players about the hostility of the fans towards visiting teams when playing in the Highveld of South Africa, the sound of thunder and the sudden flash across the sky was the most unexpected of scares for Baxter.

”The game actually nearly got called off because midway through the afternoon a soccer game was hit by lightning and a couple of players [in it] were killed,” Baxter said. ”The lightning hit the end of the stand, and everyone hit the ground. I was sitting on the bench, and everyone sort of flinched. But there’s some great vision of ‘Burkey’ and the referee doing massive flinches as you would when lightning hits a couple of hundred metres away. The crowd was far less intimidating than the weather conditions at the time.”

Fortunately, all those who watched, played and refereed during the wet and stormy weather that prevailed during the game survived unscathed, and the Waratahs held their composure to emerge 33-13 winners, a rare highlight in a season in which they finished a disappointing ninth.

Since then lightning has been a constant threat. So, too, has Loftus Versfeld maintained its reputation as a stadium that can intimidate the most hardened of touring teams.

The Waratahs might say they have learnt to harness the hostility and ferocity of an Afrikaans welcome as a positive. However, while they were able to return there in 2002 and leave with a 51-19 win, the result book shows the Bulls to be the side to have come out on top in the vast majority of their clashes at Loftus Versfeld.

On a ground surrounded by grandstands that encroach right up to – and almost over – the touchlines, the Waratahs have lost on every other visit.

However, it is not just the monolithic structure and shadows of a stadium that can be daunting, but the 50,000-capacity local crowd.

Visiting players need to develop a thick skin to survive the traditional tirade of abuse they receive – sometimes from unexpected quarters. Baxter still remembers 2004 when ground announcer Rian van Heerden introduced the Waratahs as ”sheep rooters” and sledged them in English.

”Someone had just scored a try. There was a break in play, then it came over the PA. We shook our heads and had a bit of a laugh,” Baxter said.

The Waratahs had the last laugh, too – van Heerden was sacked as ground announcer soon after.

Waratahs outside-centre Tom Carter smiles when he remembers his first and only game at the Bulls’ home ground in 2008 when NSW lost 16-13.

Carter still sees clearly his first impression of the speed and flight of a ball in high altitude off the boot of Morne Steyn and former Springboks five-eighth Derick Hougaard.

But for Carter, one who is renowned for giving his share of lip on field, it is more so the crowd that makes Loftus Versfeld ”one of the most daunting places to play football in the world”. ”On the Highveld, they love football. But it is more the crowd and intensity from when you drive in and how parochial they are. They are the most passionate and intense fans. They would die for their rugby.”