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Munster were just minutes away from repeating their 1978 victory over New Zealand before winger Joe Rokocoko’s try sealed a dramatic 18-16 win for the All Blacks at Thomond Park in Limerick on Tuesday.
The only Irish side ever to have defeated New Zealand, European champions Munster were bereft of an entire pack of internationals because of Ireland’s game against Argentina this coming Saturday.
Yet they led New Zealand, themselves not at full strength ahead of this weekend’s Test against Wales in Cardiff, 16-10 at halftime.
And this against an All Blacks starting side featuring eight of the players who kicked-off in the 32-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield earlier this month.
Even the most ardent of Munster fans might not have given much for their team’s chances after New Zealand steamrollered Ireland 22-3 on Saturday at Dublin’s Croke Park, yet history so nearly repeated itself.
“It was an awesome experience, and it just was just awesome to be part of it, and it was right down to 80 minutes,” said New Zealand No.8 Liam Messam.
“It was good for our boys to dig in there and get that try.
“They’ve got an awesome stadium, awesome fan base and they got really behind their team and they came hard at us.”
The match, designed to celebrate both the official opening of the redeveloped Thomond Park and arguably the greatest result in Irish rugby history, capped a day soaked with nostalgia and raw emotion.
A lunch for the 1978 team, which beat New Zealand 12-0, was to be expected.
But, in a sign of how much less parochial rugby has become during the past three decades, the Kiwis in the Munster team, including former All Black wing Doug Howlett, playing at fullback, answered New Zealand’s haka with one of their own.
However, the celebrations were tinged with sadness.
A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off for Shane Geoghegan, the 28-year-old player from Limerick’s Garryowen rugby club, shot dead by a drugs gang in a tragic case of mistaken identity during the build-up to this match.
Munster made a blistering start and scored first with a penalty from outside-half Paul Warwick.
Opposing stand-off Stephen Donald replied for New Zealand but midway through the half Warwick was on target again, first with a penalty and then with a sublime drop-goal from 40 metres.
When Donald skipped under the Munster posts, it should have been the cue for an onslaught and so it was, but it was an onslaught from the home side.
Minutes before halftime, a scrum near the All Black line was badly defended and a blind-side break by veteran Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer put winger Barry Murphy in for a simple try.
By the time the half-time whistle blew, the All Blacks had spilled more passes in one half than they are likely to do for the rest of the tour.
A Donald penalty early in the second-half reduced the gap to three points, but this simply roused Munster to yet greater heights as New Zealand struggled to get out of their half.
And then Rokocoko struck.
A lineout ball was worked across the field and a gap appeared for the winger to ruthlessly spoil the moment.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.