All Blacks: 10 most memorable games

A memorable moment as Jonah Lomu takes charge. Photo / Simon Bruty

There was widespread applause for the All Blacks' pulsating opening win against the Springboks. Quite right, too.

It was a terrific performance, up with some of the best that Graham Henry's All Blacks have achieved.

Assistant Wayne Smith reckoned the win last year in Marseille was pretty special and the second test victory against the Lions in 2005.

Special performances are rare and often about context, such as the Baby Blacks in 1986 or Ron Elvidge's gallantry in 1950. So try these for the 10 most memorable All Black test performances in the last two decades.

ONE
Nantes 1990. All Blacks 24 France 3. Four years before the All Blacks had been belted and Buck Shelford shredded at the same ground. This time they had a ballsy victory.

TWO
Johannesburg 1992. All Blacks 27 South Africa 24. First test since isolation, all the political furore, it was just such a potent mix of emotions and drama as the tiring tourists held on to win.

THREE
Auckland 1993. All Blacks 30 Lions 13. The series stood at one apiece. The All Blacks had played woefully to lose the previous test. Sean Fitzpatrick had a rare shocker. Laurie Mains was in meltdown. It was all on.

FOUR
Johannesburg 1995. All Blacks 12 Springboks 15. Could there have been a more dramatic test? Food poisoning claims, tackling bounty on Jonah Lomu, extra time, Nelson Mandela. A stunning end to the best World Cup.


FIVE
Wellington 1996. All Blacks 43 Australia 6. Absolutely stunning. A first half of wonderful rugby in very difficult conditions against a no-mug Aussie team. Too good, too classy, too powerful and skilled.

SIX
Sydney 1999. All Blacks 7 Australia 28. Why? Because it was so bad and the side's last test before the World Cup. It prompted all sorts of inquisitions about Taine Randell's leadership and the coaching appointments.

SEVEN
Durban 2002. All Blacks 30 South Africa 23. They had lost the week before in Sydney but regrouped for this epic Tri-Nations title win, punctuated by the attack on referee David McHugh.

EIGHT
Pretoria 2003. All Blacks 52 South Africa 16. Wondrous stuff. Seven tries as the tourists carved the Boks to bits. Muliaina, McCaw, Thorn, Mealamu and referee Alain Rolland survive from that match to return tonight.

NINE
Paris 2004. All Blacks 45 France 6. Whew! Rolland was the governor again as the tourists blitzed their rivals to atone for the narrow squeak the week before in McCaw's captaincy debut.

TEN
Christchurch 2006. All Blacks 32 Australia 12. Just for the fortune-tellers. Same score as last week, to start that year's series. Does that mean tonight will be a 35-17 victory which followed against the Boks at the Cake Tin?