Twenty years ago, Dunedin was well and truly humming as the Wallabies came to town for a Bledisloe Cup test, the only one of the year. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back at the game and where the 15 men who wore the black jersey have ended up.
THE PLAYERS
15. JOHN TIMU
Played for the All Blacks until the end of the next year, then decided to head to league and signed with the Canterbury club. Won a premiership in his first year. Headed to the United Kingdom to finish his career. Now a builder in Wanaka.
14. SIR JOHN KIRWAN
Dumped by coach Laurie Mains at the end of 1993 and went to league. Came back to union and is about to coach the Blues for a second year after a period of coaching all around the world, including stints with the Japanese and Italian national teams.
13. FRANK BUNCE
Continued to visit the fountain of youth and played on to the end of 1997. Was dumped after he dithered over a French club contract. Is now floating around Auckland in hospitality.
12. LEE STENSNESS
Came into the All Blacks that season and looked the goods. Started out as a first five-eighth but looked more assured one place further out. Went on the end-of-year tour but was pushed out by the likes of Alama Ieremia and Walter Little. Went on the All Black tour of the United Kingdom in 1997 but never played a test. Went to France to play club rugby and then came back to the Blues for a spell in 2002. Now selling sportswear in Auckland.
11. VA'AIGA TUIGAMALA
Inga the Winger enjoyed cult status in New Zealand but eventually gave in to the lure of the English pound to play league for Wigan. Then came back to rugby in another big money move and played for Samoa. After finishing his career on the field, returned to New Zealand and got into business. Set up a funeral director's and a gym, but both went bust.
10. GRANT FOX
This was one of the last tests Fox played. Retired at the end of the year before the tour to England and Scotland. Stayed involved in rugby through his business, which involved selling signs at stadiums. Then part of the Auckland scene and an analyst for Sky TV. Is now part of the All Black selection panel.
9. JON PRESTON
Switched between first five-eighth and halfback for the All Blacks but started right behind the scrum in this match. Played for the All Blacks on and off through to 1997, when he departed overseas. Played for Bath in England before returning home. Was a Sky TV analyst and ran a couple of businesses before joining the Highlanders last year to be an assistant coach.
8. ARRAN PENE
People rave about Zinzan Brooke but this was a season where Pene started most of the tests. A hard-driving forward, the Otago man never stood back and always made the advantage line. Stayed in New Zealand until 1995, although did not make the All Black squad for the World Cup in South Africa. Went to Japan and played there before coming back to New Zealand. Co-owns the Speight's Ale House in Hamilton.
7. MICHAEL JONES
Was still on the openside flank for the All Blacks at this stage and as usual put on a top-class display. Continued to play on for the national side until 1998, often on the blindside. Finished up with Auckland in 1999. Went on to coach Samoa. Has been involved in tourism ventures and lecturing at university.
6. JAMIE JOSEPH
One of three Otago players in the starting side that day. Continued to play for the All Blacks until the World Cup and left at the end of 1995 to play in Japan. Returned to Wellington, where he began a coaching career. Took charge of Wellington and then came to the Highlanders in 2011. Now entering his fourth year with the side.
5. ROBIN BROOKE
The hard man of the All Black engine room and a reliable lineout forward. Kept playing for the All Blacks until the World Cup in 1999. Went on to own supermarkets.
4. MARK COOKSLEY
The tallest man to represent the All Blacks, Cooksley was only in the side because Ian Jones was out injured. He was coined the Big Rig, and at 2.05m and more than 120kg, it was an apt nickname. Was in and out of the All Blacks over the years and was often the fall guy for a loss. Had his fair share of injury problems. Played 75 games for Waikato after starting with Counties. Now lives in Hamilton and works for a sign company.
3. OLO BROWN
The cornerstone of the All Black front row for many years, Brown flew under the radar. He diligently went about his work and the All Black scrum was seemingly always in control when he was playing. In 1998, picked up a back injury and was forced into retirement. A businessman in Auckland, involved in signage at sport grounds.
2. SEAN FITZPATRICK
Went on to play 92 tests, a mark that appeared to be unapproachable, but has now been passed by nearly half a dozen players. Played on until 1997, when a knee injury ended his career. He was then involved in managing representative sides and junior sides. Shifted to the United Kingdom, where he is involved in various business ventures.
1. CRAIG DOWD
A prop who rarely got injured and continued to feature in the All Black frame until 2000. Left for overseas after playing for the Blues in 2001. Joined Wasps in England, where he enjoyed some success. Returned to New Zealand and took the career suicide pill of coaching North Harbour. Axed after two unsuccessful years. Is now doing some media work and selling tape.
THE GAME
The All Blacks were raging hot favourites for this match, as they were coming off a tough series against the British Lions, which they had won 2-1.
In comparison, Australia had just one game against Tonga. The Wallabies had plenty of injury problems and brought back Nick Farr-Jones, who had retired the year before. Youngster Pat Howard was also asked to play at first five-eighth with Michael Lynagh injured.
Howard's first play of the game was not a great introduction to test rugby. He tried to run round Michael Jones and failed, conceding a penalty, which Grant Fox nailed.
At halftime the All Blacks were up 9-3 and the Wallabies were hanging in there. But, straight after halftime, the home team enjoyed a purple patch when first Sean Fitzpatrick scored after some fine work by Fox and John Kirwan inside him.
Three minutes later, Va'aiga Tuigamala got on the end of a kick and passed up to Frank Bunce, who scored. Fox nailed the conversion, just, and then added a penalty, and with less than 30 minutes to go, the All Blacks were heading for a big win.
But Tim Horan outjumped John Timu to score a try from a high punt and Fox completed the scoring with a penalty near the end.
TENT CITY
This was the first time the tent city at Bathgate Park appeared and it was a raging success.
The idea was hatched by Southern club members who had experienced similar ventures overseas. They got together and decided to put a big tent city down at Bathgate Park, which was a short hop, step and a jump from Carisbrook.
Some big tents were hired and 1900 pallets put down on Bathgate Park to protect the ground. It was a lot of hard work, all done by club volunteers, but punters started drifting in before the game. Then, when the match finished, a sea of people converged on the tents and the beer started being poured.
There was a concern about 5.30pm it would run out, but the arrival of 900 dozen cans allayed those worries and a few additional kegs also kept the estimated 10,000 punters happy.
The complex closed just after midnight. About 40,000 cans of beer had been consumed.
The next day was a frantic cleanup but all were happy after a great day for the club, and an addition to the uniqueness of what makes Dunedin such a good city for test rugby.
Another tent city was staged the next year when the Springboks came to visit and they were repeated in 1997 and 2001. The Southern club made some money out of it but that was on the back of a lot of volunteer labour.
A switch to night rugby in 2002 was, in effect, the death of the tent city.
