Watching ABs win in Oz with parents brilliant

For Wairoa Mayor Craig Little, getting Mum and Dad over for a test in Australia was a special All Blacks moment. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little has seen a good few All Blacks clashes through the years but it was the special guests he and his wife took along to see the boys in black take on the Wallabies which came to mind first.

The long-time All Blacks follower has seen them play far and wide - "saw them in Wales and at Twickenham in England and seen them a few times in Australia".

It was one of the games across the Tasman which stuck in his mind.

It was at the Sydney Rugby Stadium on July 25, 1992 and was the last of a three-test series against the Wallabies - a series which saw the Aussies take the honours.

"But the game we saw, the All Blacks won 26-23."

Apart from the breath-taking win it was the company that made it special though.

Mr Little and his wife Jan were living in Australia at the time and decided to fly his mum and dad, who were in their 60s and living in Wairoa, over for the test.

"It was the first All Blacks game they had ever seen live so it was very special and turned out to be an incredible experience for them," Mr Little said.

"And it was the game we won so that made it even more special."

Mr Little said he also had some friends living in the UK, who knew his parents, arrive for the game.

"Mum and dad felt like royalty."

The Littles spent six years in Australia and saw the All Blacks play their host country several times.

"We had a bit of a bad run over there for a while when we were there," he said, adding that yes, the Aussies he mingled with were never short of a few words to remind him of a score which went their way. He said any game with Jonah Lomu in it was memorable, and when asked if there were any All Blacks in the extended family he said no.

"Unfortunately not ... but I don't think Walter Little would mind if we claimed him."

With pride, he believed Wairoa had produced five All Blacks in George Nepia, the Brownlie brothers, Greg Sommerville, Israel Dagg (who attended Frasertown School) and even a Black Fern in Claire Richardson.

Mr Little said he had some mayoral work to wrap up but was hopeful of getting to Saturday's test against Argentina at McLean Park.

"It'll be another great occasion."