Graham Lowe: Kiwi rugby in heaven after years of hell

The tears were streaming down my face as the Kiwis made history against Australia yesterday. I was emotionally shocked.

There are just so many neat things about this 24-0 win, I'll be celebrating for days.

The emotion cannot be underestimated. The frustration of years of being treated as second-stringers by the Australians, of having players removed from the team and pulling out through injury, of losing games we should have won - it's all gone now.

All those guys who hobble into the ex-Kiwis reunions with bad backs and bad knees, they've all been repaid in spades.

Yesterday's win honoured the effort of those who gave blood for their team.

In the days before professional football, it cost those players personally, physically and financially to play for their country. I wouldn't have been the only one blubbing away towards the end as the Kiwis ground out the win and kept Australia scoreless.

The Kiwis methodically took Australia apart. It was a masterstroke by Bluey McClennan putting Shontayne Hape in the back row. They had been lacking pace and attack there and Hape solved that for them. It shows McClennan can think outside the square. It's great to see him succeed.

In 1985, when we won at Carlaw Park, we questioned the intensity of the Australians. Going into the game we wanted it more than they did, and that's what Bluey has achieved.

People are always asking me "what makes a good coach?" and I have always had one reply - a good coach gets the best from his players and McClennan has proved he can do that.

How good is Ruben Wiki? He showed that old-fashioned graft and guts, passion and pride in yourself and your team and your country can get you home.

This team has proved what a lot of people in league have believed for a long time, that we have got the winning of the big games if the pieces of the jigsaw are put together correctly.

With Graeme Norton, McClennan has raised the Kiwis to a new level of respect. There is no reason not to be very confident that this could be the start of some sort of dynasty.

Next time the Kiwis take the field, the Australians will be thinking, "Geez that was hard last time". How good will this team be with the likes of Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams back in?

The knives will be out big-time for Wayne Bennett and I have no doubt he will get the flick. I don't think he's the Wayne Bennett of a few seasons ago, maybe he needs a change of club and maybe he should take a leaf out of Tim Sheens' book. Sheens has reinvented himself and by giving his players their head to play their own game, a game they like, he's won another title.

The Australians were well short of their best. But nothing can take the gloss off this win and the performance by the whole Kiwis team, every one of them put their hand up and say they contributed to their best.

Memo to my wife, Karen: It may take a few days to find me.