Magic Games at Westpac Stadium

Above: Westpac Stadium in 2005, the scene of the All Blacks' 30-point thrashing of the British and Irish Lions. Photo courtesy of Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

Since opening in early 2000, Westpac Stadium in Wellington has hosted some memorable rugby. Here's our take on some of the magic rugby matches there over the years:

2000 Lomu and Cullen light up new stadium against Sharks

The first Super Rugby match at the brand new Stadium was always going to be special. A double act by All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen helped the Hurricanes christen their new home in style when they beat the Sharks 40-23 in front of a full house. Musician Dave Dobbyn provided pre-?game entertainment but the Hurricanes stole the show. The Hurricanes clicked from the opening whistle and fullback Cullen and new left wing Lomu scored two tries each.

2000 John Eales stuns All Blacks

Any discussions around who the All Blacks' greatest adversaries have been down the years would include Wallabies lock and captain - and some-time goal-kicker -? John Eales. His deeds in this match in the Stadium's inaugural Test match are a key reason why. With the All Blacks leading 23-21 and with time up, Australia were awarded a penalty. Eales looked around and, seeing regular kickers Stirling Mortlock and Joe Roff, off the field on the substitutes bench he knew he had to take the kick. You could hear a pin drop as Eales lined it up. He sent it through the uprights and Australia won 24-23 and levelled the series one all and retained the Bledisloe Cup.

2000 Wellington Lions smash Canterbury in NPC

The last time the Wellington Lions won the NPC/ITM Cup was in 2000, sensationally beating Canterbury in the final in Christchurch. Prior to that they opened their account at their new headquarters at the start of the season with a convincing 27-20 win over the red and blacks. Loose forwards Filo Tiatia, Kupu Vanisi and Jerry Collins and locks lock Dion Waller and Inoke Afeaki were Wellington's best as they led 13-10 at halftime and later 27-10. The bumper crowd left happy.

2001 Hurricanes stun Brumbies

"Expect the unexpected" was a catch-cry of the Hurricanes for a long time, and this game proved that. In 2001 the Brumbies won the Super Rugby title and were clearly the best team, while the Hurricanes failed to fire and eventually finished ninth. Form was turned completely on its head in this game, as the Hurricanes completely dominated and won 34-19. David Holwell scored 19 points, young Jerry Collins impressed and the back three of Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu and Brad Fleming roared.

2003 New Zealand Sevens team finally wins in Wellington

It took four years for New Zealand to win its own IRB Sevens team in Wellington. After missing out in 2000, 2001 and 2002 but dominating the circuit, New Zealand beat England 38-20 in the Cup final to reward coach Gordon Tietjens and 38 year-old skipper Eric Rush. The final was fittingly a beauty. New Zealand led 17-14 at halftime, the rampaging Roy Kinikinilau crossing for a brace and Tafai loasa gaining the third score. England came back to take the lead in the second half, but Tafai Ioasa scored two more tries and New Zealand pulled away. Afterwards Tietjens heaped praise on young guns Kinikinilau, Anthony Tuitavake and Liam Messam.

2003 Poneke shut out MSP in Jubilee Cup final

Poneke were beaten Jubilee Cup finalists at Westpac Stadium in 2000 and 2001. But, reversing their narrow 31-22 and 32-25 losses to Marist St Pat's earlier this season, they defeated MSP 26-22 to win their first and only title on the ground and deny MSP a three-peat. Poneke's Wellington and Hurricanes first five-eighth David Holwell had his kicking radar on and kept Poneke's noses ahead. The key score of the final was blindside flanker Peter Savelio crashing over in the corner and Holwell converting to put Poneke ahead by 11 points.

2003 Cullen cheered loudly in last game

One of the loudest cheers by a Westpac Stadium crowd in a losing cause. In his final game in New Zealand rugby before departing for Munster in Ireland, fullback Christian Cullen scored two tries for the Wellington Lions and received a raucous standing ovation from the capacity crowd when he was subbed late in the match. His efforts couldn't prevent Auckland from winning however, Cullen's opposite, Auckland fullback Orene Al'I, on fire and spearheading a 41-29 win. Cullen, one of the founding stars of Westpac Stadium, ended his All Blacks career having scored 46 tries in 58 Tests.

2004 Late try gives Hurricanes draw with Blues

As a spectacle this wasn't much of a game, but the result was significant. The Hurricanes lost their first eight straight encounters with the Blues between 1996-2003, before drawing with them 26-26 in 2004. Converted wing Roy Kinikinilau, who could have won the game for the Hurricanes when he lost the ball over the line the previous week week, atoned for that mistake with a try in the 75th minute. The conversion by replacement halfback Piri Weepu leveled the scores. The Blues then had a chance to make it nine straight wins over the Hurricanes but a death-knock dropped kick went astray. This result also shut the defending champions Blues out of the semi-finals, finishing fifth.

2004: Lions smash Taranaki in Holwell's last game

First five-eighth David Holwell's 61st and final appearance for Wellington before he departed for a stint in Leinster in Ireland was memorable. The match was barely 20 minutes old when the Lions led 35-0, having scored five converted tries. Tana Umaga was the star. They went on to win 73-28, scoring the highest number of points scored by Welling?ton against its now former Hurricanes franchise partner and falling one short of the 74 they scored against Bay of Plenty the previous season. Holwell finished with scored 17 points, kicking eight from nine and taking his tally scored for the Lions to 613.

2004 So'oialo leads Lions on Mooloo Safari in NPC semi-final

Wellington should've won the NPC in 2004. A series of dominant performances (see above as an example) saw them qualify in pole position for the semi-finals. Waikato was a side to be wary of however, and no one was complacent heading into this. Wellington's pack had steamrolled Waikato in their earlier round-robin 37-17 win, and the dose was repeated in this match. Prop Neemia Tialata had a strong game as did No. 8 Rodney So'oialo. Wellington led 13-9 at halftime, but second half tries to wing Lome Fa'atau and centre Conrad Smith sealed victory. Wellington lost 27-40 to Canterbury in the following week's final.

2005: All Blacks on fire against British and Irish Lions

The visiting British and Lions were thrashed by the All Blacks 48-18, conceding the highest number of points any Lions team has had scored against them in a Test in their 114-year history. The first half was relatively close, a highlight being All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter racing 50 metres off a turnover and setting up a try to Wellington centre Conrad Smith. The second half turned into a masterclass by the All Blacks and in particular Carter who scored two tries, converted three and kicked two penalties. His 33 points broke the all-time record for points by an All Black against the Lions.

2005 Va'a kicks late penalty as Petone beat Norths

28-Test Samoan international Earl Va'a was instrumental in Petone's dramatic revival to beat Northern United, 21-20 in this Jubilee Cup final. Favourites Norhern United were seemingly heading for a title defence when Va'a helped Petone gradually gain the ascendency. A try to New Zealand Sevens representative Tu Umaga-Marshall narrowed the gap. Then wing and Tongan Sevens representative Willie Moala ran down a chip kick to make it 20-16. Va'a's goal kicking would be the difference. He nailed the sideline conversion of Moala's try in the 70th minute and then in the 75th minute, when Petone was pressing again, he kicked a 25 metre-angled penalty to edge Petone ahead and ultimately win the game.

2006 Determined Hurricanes outlast Sharks

The Hurricanes had their best season in 2006, making the final against the Crusaders. Along the way they achived a series of narrow, gutsy wins. None more so than this 23-17 win over a strong Sharks team. The key to victory was two lightning long-range second half tries. Hurricanes right wing Lome Fa'atau, who was the competiton's leading try-scorer in 2006, was directly involved in both last quarter converted tries, setting up one to flanker Chris Masoe and then darting 50 metres to score the match winning try.? Both tries were scored from Sharks mistakes and together proved the decisive difference in a close game influenced by difficult conditions and persistent rain.

2006 Nonu scores late for Lions to pip Canterbury

Ma'a Nonu cemented his place as a Westpac Stadium crowd favourite by scoring a late try to give Wellington a last gasp 26-24 victory over Canterbury. The powerful second five-eighth ended an extended period of pressure on the red and black line by crashing over and leaving first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth the unlikely task of securing the win with the conversion, which he duely slotted. The win capped off a memorable game as both sides went to and fro for eighty minutes. Canterbury led 16-6 at halftime, but Wellington weren't going to lie down. Wing Cory Jane scored off a grubber and Gopperth landed a sideline conversion and then a penalty to trail 19-21. Canterbury increased their lead with a penalty, but the Lions surged forward again and Nonu smashed his way through.

2006 Carter scores 25 points against South Africa

After scoring 33 points the previous year against the British and Irish Lions. All Blacks first five-eighth was at it again against the Springboks. Carter landed seven penalty goals and two conversions and set up tries for halfback Piri Weepu and skipper Richie McCaw in the 35-17 win.? The game had a sensational start when South African halfback Fourie du Preez charged down a Carter clearance, his only fault of the night, and scored deep in the in-goal area after 17 seconds. The rest of the Test belonged to the All Blacks, who recovered to lead 19-7 at halftime and then completely dominated the second half.

2007 Coles scores double on debut in Otago thrashing

Dane Coles's NPC debut was one to savour. The fresh-faced hooker made a big impact when he came off the bench to score two quickfire tries, the first from close range and the second from a searing run in broken play. These tries were the icing on the cake of a glitzy 68-7 win over a hapless Otago. The Lions won nine tries to one, scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes and never letting up. As well as Coles, Piri Weepu, Tamati Ellison and Shannon Paku also scored braces.

2007 All Blacks put 60 points on France

The All Blacks ran rampant to beat France 61-10. Forward power and superior skills and vision in the backs were hallmarks of this nine-try win. Despite losing starting lock Keith Robinson to injury in the warm-ups and lock Ali Williams to a broken jaw once play was underway, the tight five thoroughly outplayed their opposites. The result was a field day for the backs, who made in-roads and carved off territory with their boots. The backs scored six of nine tries, including two to wing Joe Rokokoko.

2007 Waldrom scores late in win over Brumbies

A great finish to an otherwise dull game for spectators. No. 8 Thomas Waldrom was the hero in scoring the match-winning try in the corner in the 80th minute as the Hurricanes beat the Brumbies 11-10. Waldrom's try brought the Westpac Stadium crowd to its feet as the Hurricanes overhauled a 6-10 deficit for a death-knock win. With the fulltime hooter ringing, the Hurricanes attacked for one last time from inside their own half. Surging forward towards the line, replacement flanker Hayden Hopgood offloaded a deft pass in the tackle to Waldrom in support on his shoulder. Waldrom then pinned his ears back and charged for the corner for the decisive score.??

2008 Vito smashes Samoa in Sevens

A star is born. Victor Vito became an instant hero at Westpac Stadium when he produced two of the more memorable tries in Wellington's IRB sevens tournament's history in the 22-17 final win over Samoa.? The 20-year-old scored the last- gasp match-winner, but it was his first-half effort that thrilled the 35,000-strong crowd when he raced 60 metres around Samoa's Mikaele Pesamino from a standing start, then steamrolled Uale Mai to score - a try that drew comparisons to Jonah Lomu in his prime. The tournament win was part of a golden run for New Zealand who, in winning in Dubai, South Africa, Wellington and then USA, became the first team in the nine-year history of the IRB Sevens to have won the first four events of a season.

2008 Jubilee Cup final is deadlocked

As well as being the coldest Wellington club rugby finals day to be played at Westpac Stadium (it snowed that day) this was the closest. In fact, nothing could separate Northern United and Marist St Pat's and they finished all square on 10-10. There was no provision for extra time and so the Jubilee Cup was shared. In a dramatic second half, Norths came storming back to draw level with just seven minutes on the clock, scoring two unconverted tries after MSP halfback Peter Sciascia had seemingly delivered a decisive blow to their chances with a converted try right on the halftime hooter to put MSP ahead 10-0 at the break. ?

2008 Ranfurly Shield locked away for the summer

Phew, that was close, voiced the thousands of supporters in unison as they streamed out of Westpac Stadium after the Lions had locked away the Ranfurly Shield for the summer by beating Tasman. They had recently won the Shield off Auckland and this was their only defence of the year. The Lions won 26-20, but it wasn't assured until late in the match after Tasman halfback Kahn Fotuali'i dived across the try line from close range to give his team a 13-11 lead, with the heavy rain that was forecast to arrive about to descend on the ground. The Lions had to dig deep, halfback Piri Weepu edging them back ahead with a penalty and then scoring very late tries to lock and captain Jeremy Thrush and No. 8 Thomas Waldrom.

2009 Lions retain Ranfurly Shield against Auckland by a point

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s and early 2000s, the Lions regularly the Ranfurly Shield off perennial holders Auckland and Canterbury but always fell short. This time the ball was on the other foot as holders Wellington had to see of a stiff challenge. Superb defence was the key for Wellington as they registered their 50th win in Ranfurly Shield rugby and their sixth win (and last) of their 2008 and 2009 tenure. A tense match unravelled over the last 10 minutes as Auckland came back from an 8-16 deficit to score a converted try to close the margin to just one point. Replacement Auckland halfback Taniela Moa shot clear in broken play and scooted to score under the posts. From the re-start, the visitors then poured on to attack and went close to crossing again. But, as they had been all game, the Lions' close-quarter defence saved the day and Wellington won 16-15.

2009 Cory Jane electric for All Blacks against Australia

Cory Jane provided some much needed thrust for the All Blacks as they produced their best performance of the season to beat Australia 33-6. Jane, confident under the high ball, and timing his backline entries superbly took his chance with both hands, and had early reward with the game's opening try in the 30th minute. Fullback Mils Muliaina kicked into space, Jane leapt for the ball and then beat Wallaby defender Drew Mitchell to score. The win gave the All Blacks breathing space and they pulled clear for the win, hometown hero Ma'a Nonu also scoring a try.

2011 Tonga almost knock France out of RWC

Tonga famously beat France 19-14 in this Rugby World Cup Pool match, but if the Tongans had taken any one of their many try-scoring chances that they missed and if the French hadn't scored a late try then they would've been sensationally shot out of the World Cup. As it transpired, France secured a losing bonus point allowing them to sneak through to the quarter-finals and later the final against the All Blacks. Tonga's first five-eighth Kurth Morath slotted four penalties and converted Sukanaivalu Hufanga's try and Tonga all-but wrapped up victory. French wing Vincent Clerc saved his side's blushes by scoring an injury-time try to rescue a bonus point.

2012 Record breaking win for Hurricanes against Rebels

The Hurricanes scored their most number of points in a Super Rugby match in routing the Rebels 66-24. Left wing Julian Savea scored a hat trick, fullback Andre Taylor and right wing Alapati Leuia scored two tries each and first five-eighth Beauden Barrett kicked all his 10 shots on goal as the Hurricanes surpassed their previous highest Super Rugby score of 64-32 against Northern Transvaal (now the Bulls) in New Plymouth in 1997.The Hurricanes scored five tries in the first half to take a 38-17 lead into halftime, Savea scoring two, fullback Taylor, right wing Leiua and openside flanker Jack Lam all crossing.

2013: Leiua intercept beats Crusaders

Right wing Alapati Leiua's 73rd minute intercept try gave the Hurricanes this 29-28 win over the Crusaders. Leiua read a Crusaders backline move from a lineout in centre field and flew up out of his line to pluck the pass out of the air and sprint 40 metres to score the match winner under the posts. First five-eighth Beauden Barrett, who had previously kicked five penalties including two crucial long-range strikes, kicked the conversion and the Hurricanes were back in front for the first time since early in the first half. The drama didn't end there though. The visitors worked their way back up field and positioned first five-eighth Dan Carter in the pocket for a dropped goal. But Carter's pot from in front flew wide.

2013 Wellington Lions on fire against Auckland

Probably the Lions' most complete performance at home in recent years, this win pretty much cemented them as joint favourites with defending champions Canterbury ahead of the pointy end of the competition just around the corner. A hungry Lions effort, spearheaded by dynamic openside flanker Ardie Savea, and the accurate goal kicking of first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga, carried the Lions to a 38-16 victory. This win was Wellington's first against Auckland since 2009. Second five-eighth Shaun Treeby, lock Api Naikatini, Savea and hooker Motu Matu'u scored the Lions' tries, while Sopoaga kicked three conversions and four penalties for an 18-point haul.

2014 All Blacks Sevens blank South Africa

After losing in the finals to the previous two finals to South Africa and then losing their opening match of the tournament to Fiji, the All Black Sevens bounced back to emphatically win their home IRB Sevens tournament by defeating South Africa in the final. Defence was the key for New Zealand as they didn't concede a single point in their remaining five games and they beat South Africa 21-0 in the final.

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