1. The 2011 Rugby World Cup final, Eden Park
Viewing figures tell the story. Matches from the tournament swamped the all-time TV rating list. The initial big hit eased a little as the tournament played out, then surged to a crescendo as the All Blacks and France battled it out at Eden Park. The final was so tense that time stood still.
2. All Blacks v Springboks, third test, Eden Park, 1981
A case of a match stopping a divided nation. This was drama on a grand scale, including a low-flying plane dropping flour bombs, one of which hit All Black prop Gary Knight. This was the final chance for anti-tour/apartheid protesters to get their message across, a bizarre day that also signalled it was time for healing after the bitter tour. This match and the series have never mattered rugby-wise and are rarely included when judging the sport's balance of power. That day will never be forgotten, however.
3. All Whites v Bahrain, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 2009
An exuberant crowd of 35,000 drove the national football side on to a 1-0 victory and a place in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. After a fluky draw in Bahrain, Rory Fallon's header and Mark Paston's penalty save were the high points. Unabashed national pride was the order of the day, a trait not always prevalent in our sporting life. This was a quick hit show stopper - the long-haul qualification ride by the 1982 team also enthralled the country like no sporting journey before or since.
4. David Tua v Lennox Lewis heavyweight title fight, Las Vegas, 2000
More than 1.84 million viewers made Tua's tilt our highest rating TV show until it was overtaken by matches from the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The big hitting Tua lasted the distance, but not all the fans did. His challenge was a famous fizzer.
