Ten Guitars to start, and no looking back

Fears that New Zealand rugby fans would struggle for words during Saturday night's anthems at the New Zealand Maori clash against the Lions match proved unfounded.

When the unofficial Maori anthem, Ten Guitars, sparked up early in the match through the stadium speakers, few in the crowd were unfamiliar with the words to the iconic Kiwi sing-along.

And it was the mix of New Zealand favourites, including Herbs' Slice of Heaven, Dave Dobbyn's Loyal and Patea Maori Club's Poi E, combined with the passion of the New Zealand Maori, that drove emotions of the capacity crowd during the historic 19-13 win over the Lions.

Pre-match build-up got off to what looked set to be an amateurish affair when stadium staff wheeled out a large golden lion with prophetic red eyes.

When the stirring sounds of a Welsh choir erupted throughout the stadium and dozens of young women decked in the red, green, blue and white of the visitors danced on to the field, many spectators were scratching their heads, wondering what city they were in.

But the homage to the four-nation make-up of the Lions was brief, and the troupe of Maori warriors and wahine who bolted on to the field left no doubt who the stars were.

Haka and song by Waikato's top Maori performers were matched by the explosion of fireworks that set the stage for the team's haka.

The crowd of more than 32,000, who moments earlier roared loudest for home town hero and Maori captain Jono Gibbes, were set further on edge by the haunting Purerehua theme, from the movie Once were Warriors, spilling over the park just before kick-off.

This passion continued throughout the game, with any differences among the cross-section of New Zealand supporters soon lost among chants of Maori-Maori, Kiwi-Kiwi.

And concerns of a Barmy Army invasion of New Zealand stadiums continue to be unfounded, with Lions fans remaining occasional red blotches on a black landscape.

The Maori had never beaten the Lions and in the match build-up there were suggestions the Maori would follow previous failures by faltering in the last 20 minutes.

But when the final whistle sounded it was the jubilant Maori circling the field applauding the support.