Rory Fallon celebrates the All Whites' historic victory against Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Rory Fallon celebrates the All Whites' historic victory against Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup. Photo / Mark Mitchell

After the euphoria of the All Whites win over Bahrain, Andrew Alderson got to thinking about the top 10 moments in New Zealand sporting history on home soil.

1. All Whites vs Bahrain, Wellington 2009
Saturday White Fever had everything - passionate, vocal fans (which is saying something for New Zealand), a stunning headed goal from Rory Fallon and an instinctive penalty save from Mark Paston. There have been few sporting events in New Zealand which involved the community the way this one did. It will adorn New Zealand highlights reels for generations and yet the sporting triumph had a distinct Kiwi No 8 wire feel about it.

The All Whites had done their homework on the Bahraini penalty-takers but, when the penalty was awarded, Paston was in the dark, as the information had not been relayed to him on the pitch. Quite why such information was in the All Whites' hands - but not Paston's - is a mystery and probably deserves a strip being torn off someone. But Paston's self-confessed guess and dive meant "she'll be right" was indeed all right on the night.

2. Peter Snell, Wanganui, 1962

The majestic Snell broke the world record for the mile, setting a time of 3m 54.4s at Cooks Gardens.

In a running style that was once described in the era as "wading through knee high grass", he produced his trademark kick for the packed crowd as coach Arthur Lydiard growled out his times trackside, stopwatch in hand. Snell backed it up a week later with new world records for the 800 metres and 880 yards at Christchurch. The 800m mark of 1m 44.3s is a time which would have won gold at the 2008 Olympics. Then, in November 1964, Snell did it again for the mile, notching 3m 54.04s in Auckland.

3. All Blacks vs South Africa, Auckland 1956

The All Blacks' 11-5 fourth test win over the Springboks at Eden Park followed a tour which incited national fervour like few others. New Zealand took the series 3-1, the first country to inflict a series defeat on South Africa. It occurred in an age when the impact of apartheid - through innocence or ignorance - hadn't really hit home. The chant of "black, black, black" rose to a crescendo and supporters almost encroached beyond the touchlines in places to get a view of their heroes. Often the acute armpit angle made by a trenchcoat-clad bicep and pectoral had to suffice. The crowd was also treated to controversy in the post match speeches, with Peter Jones' then-taboo response of "I'm absolutely buggered" after scoring the winning try.

4. All Blacks vs France, Auckland 1987

The fervour started at the inaugural Rugby World Cup the moment John Kirwan touched the ball against Italy from the kick-off on May 22 and ran the length of the field - something the team in Milan last weekend must envy. Five wins later on June 20, after Waka Nathan had run the ceremonial ball on to the field in a delightfully amateurish opening ceremony, the All Blacks produced a 29-9 win in the final over France. Like Kirwan's feat against Italy, this also looks better with age. The antithesis to the ensuing euphoria - and to the fast-approaching professional era - was left wing Craig "Greedy" Green. A World Cup winner, he still had to be back at work and, less than two days later, was waiting outside his house in Christchurch at seven in the morning with a packed lunch for his mates to pick him up for roofing work.