KEY POINTS:
There aren't too many pithy one-liners in the hallowed volumes of the New Zealand Rugby Almanack - the books are largely statistical reviews.
But when it came to Auckland's 2004 campaign, Pat Lam's first as coach, the editors couldn't help themselves.
Auckland conceded 34 tries, lost the Ranfurly Shield to Bay of Plenty and finished seventh in the championship.
"They have had better defensive records," the Almanack noted drily.
When Lam fronted a press conference on Saturday night after a national championship final victory over Wellington founded on a resolute defence, one suspected that 2004 Almanack note hadn't escaped his attention.
"To score 57 tries and only concede 15 is a great achievement," he said. "I'm very proud of the effort, not only tonight but throughout the whole season."
Improving the team's defence had clearly been a priority.
"We knew we had the talent to run the ball and play rugby, but defence was an area where we needed to tidy up our systems. A lot of guys in this team can make big hits, but I found, even when I was playing for Samoa, that big hits are no good if you are out of the system.
"So we tidied our system up and made it so the guys just had to bring attitude. They certainly did that all season."
Auckland scored two tries to one in the first half but were then forced to hang on when Troy Flavell was sin-binned late on after a succession of breakdown penalties.
Referee Chris Pollock incurred the wrath of both coaches, which probably suggests he had a pretty decent game.
Auckland contested furiously at the breakdown and frequently strayed over the line, slowing down Wellington's ball and forcing them to commit large numbers to the rucks.
Flavell had been on only 12 minutes when he was yellow-carded for a fairly innocuous offence, but he was undoubtedly paying the price for the sins of others as Pollock had already issued a general warning to Auckland captain Sam Tuitupou.
"I was struggling with some of the calls. I know the boys were getting frustrated on the field," Lam said. "I felt that we were playing all the rugby but were getting pinged.
"Losing Troy was a big call, considering other incidents were overlooked for yellow cards. We felt that Troy was going for that ball legally and got blown out from the side."
A thumping shoulder charge by Rodney So'oialo on Brent Ward two minutes into the second half should have seen the All Black No 8 dispatched to the sideline for a spell, but on balance Auckland could have few complaints.
A steady stream of Auckland infringements meant Wellington were seldom able to get on a roll.
But Flavell's departure opened the door for Wellington after they had kicked away too much ball in a rain-lashed opening half and gone behind to brilliant counter-attacking tries by Jay Williams and Isa Nacewa.
Lions lock Jeremy Thrush kept his side in the game with a try four minutes before the break and Jimmy Gopperth and Nacewa then traded penalties for much of the second half.
Wellington would have drawn within three points had Gopperth's penalty attempt following Flavell's exit not bounced off a post.
But Auckland shrugged off their numerical disadvantage, retaining the ball for long spells before Nacewa kicked the 71st-minute penalty that sealed the match.
Lam paid tribute to Tuitupou's leadership in the tense final stages.
"The 14 that were on the field really lifted and got us through. It was a true final. We really had to grind it out."
Defeat consigned Wellington to a fourth set of runners-up medals in five years but Lions coach Aussie McLean took the loss on the chin.
"I was proud of our guys," he said. "They stuck at it the whole way and came back pretty strongly in the second half. We just weren't good enough."
Ward, one of five players making their last appearance for Auckland, said the victory was an emotional occasion.
"Winning the Shield and then going out on a high by winning the Cup is fantastic."
