ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Thursday Aug 8, 2019

Throwback Thursday: Relive the 'Greatest Game Ever Played'

It was the game that had (almost) everything. Dubbed by many as “the greatest game ever played”, the Bledisloe Cup clash between New Zealand and Australia goes down in the rugby annals as one of the most memorable Test matches in history.

ADVERTISEMENT

With the two sides facing each other this weekend in the Rugby Championship, it is a fitting opportunity to look back 19 years to a match few predicted would be anywhere near as close as the 39-35 final scoreline – in the All Blacks’ favour – given the utter bedlam of the opening five minutes.

Three tries conceded before they had a barely touched the ball was obviously not the start to the match the Wallabies – defending World Cup winners at the time – could even have dreamt of, let alone predicted. Many a team would have capitulated, but the Australians fought back in front of a world record crowd of 109,874 to draw level 24-24 at the break.

The All Blacks’s three quick-fire scores were indeed their only ones they scored during the first half. Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini and Christian Cullen each touched down to stun the Sydney home support, with Andrew Merthens adding three conversions and a penalty.

Once they got their hands on the ball though, the Wallabies were a dangerous force and responded in the eighth minute through the then inexperienced winger Stirling Mortlock.

Mortlock had only made his international debut against Argentina a month prior and bagged a second try 11 minutes later. The comeback of all comebacks was now most definitely on.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chris Latham and Joe Roff also touched down and had it not been for a couple of missed conversions from Mortlock himself, the Wallabies may well have miraculously led at the interval. That they were drawn at 24-24 was still seen as nothing short of a miracle.

Mortlock’s early second half penalty did however give the hosts the lead at 27-24, but the All Blacks – no doubt stunned into action – responded straight from the restart and scored via scrum-half Justin Marshall.

Jeremy Paul’s try looked to have sealed it for Australia but the local hearts were broken when Jonah Lomu strolled over after a mesmeric final minute movement which secured the win.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s a match reflected on by New Zealanders as a wondrous triumphant comeback, and by Australians as a game they should have had no right to even compete for after the opening five minutes.

The ebb and flow nature, the twists and sheer entertainment throughout was, however, something which even the Wallaby team of 2000 can look back on with great memories as recounted in an ARUTV segment in 2013.

Related Articles

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Brilliant footage shows old school...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Jokester has field day with Chris Latham's...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    La Rochelle centre Seuteni produces other worldly offload in dominant victory

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Anthony Watson comes within seconds of a Tuilagi haymaker

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    South African Panel Debate Apparent ‘Clean Cut’ Red Card In Interesting Debate

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Sevens magic as 'headed' try brings stadium to its feet

View All

Funnies

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Stephen Jones’s deleted rugby 7s article leads to hilarious wikipedia update

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: DHL Stormers Celebrate Munster Victory In Style

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Referee brands players 'clowns' in hilarious grassroots clip

View All

Amateur

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Steve Hansen makes statement following Folau selection

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    O'Gara gives honest response on Ireland job in passionate interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

View All