Coach John Tito knew his North Otago team was on a "hiding to nothing" in its 1993 challenge for the Ranfurly Shield against a star-studded Auckland line-up.
Yet, he recalled this week being proud of his players who "stuck in there" at Centennial Park in Oamaru on September 1, 1993.
It was Auckland's 60th defence of the shield although, in the context of the game, defence hardly seemed an appropriate word, Otago Daily Times rugby writer Brent Edwards sagely observed the next day.
Auckland romped to victory 139-5, with North Otago's only magic moment in the second minute, when fullback Brent McEwan crashed over for a try from a tap penalty.
The Auckland team included some of the greats of the game, like John Kirwan, Grant Fox, Zinzan Brooke and Robin Brooke.
It had been a busy few weeks for the North Otago team, which played East Coast at Tolaga Bay on August 21, Wanganui on August 25, Horowhenua on August 28 - Carlos Spencer was playing for Horowhenua - Auckland on September 1, and West Coast a week later.
That, to Tito, embodied the true spirit of local rugby.
The players never got dispirited and the prospect of wearing the North Otago jersey in the Ranfurly Shield challenge kept them going on the tour, he said.
He remembered the excitement all over North Otago and how the Auckland contingent were fine ambassadors for the game - becoming "absorbed" in the community during their visit.
"They made themselves available to all and sundry," he said.
Auckland players travelled 40 minutes inland to train at Kurow, three read stories to children at the Oamaru Public Library and four took part in an Otago Daily Times mini-pull promotion.
They gathered up a group of children to travel with them and the Ranfurly Shield on their float in a special parade.
Even walking down the main street, they took the time to stop, talk and sign autographs for people of all ages.
Tito met his Auckland counterpart - now All Black coach - Graham Henry and said he was "exceptionally good".
Tito himself even became "a bit of a celebrity, I suppose" fielding phone calls from media in Auckland and being interviewed on television.
Tito said his team just wanted to wear the North Otago jersey and play to the best of its ability. Players like that had held the North Otago union together over the years to enable it to get to where it is today.
He singled out captain Shane Curle, who always led well and believed in his men, Simon Raki Raki, Simon Shaw and John Taeiloa for particular praise as stand-out players.
Rugby has changed a lot since then - particularly the face of the sport, and especially in North Otago, with an influx of Pacific Island players, Tito said.
The game was also much more professional, from how a team ate to how it travelled.
Asked what the North Otago boys would have eaten back in 1993 and Tito laughed.
"Probably have a pie," he said.
Tito, now 55 and a carpenter working on the Opera House restoration project, probably won't head out to watch next week's shield challenge.
Golf has probably taken over as his main sporting passion although he still helps out at his rugby club, Excelsior.
