NZ's top 10 home wins

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.

5. Team New Zealand, Auckland, 2000

The first defence of the America's Cup by a nation outside the United States proved a triumph for the team, national pride and the Auckland Viaduct infrastructure before the black magic of Messrs Blake, Coutts, Butterworth et al unravelled in 2003. This preceded the exposure of the carefully nurtured myth that such campaigns were actually about national rather than corporate identity. Tacking, gybing, dialling-up and dirty wind became familiar terms around kitchen tables in the 'burbs. Red wool had also never done such a roaring trade, with Sir Peter's famous socks proving a must-have support accessory for many after the 1995 victory. Most slipped them on their feet but other socks formed brief relationships with car aerials and CBD apartment balconies.

6. New Zealand vs West Indies, Auckland, 1956

It was 26 years and 45 matches in the making but New Zealand finally won a test, beating the West Indies at Eden Park. The key moment was on the last day, with the Windies 68 for six, chasing 268 to win. Jack Alabaster dropped a delivery short and Everton Weekes, who'd scored five consecutive centuries earlier in the tour, pulled a ball high towards the mid-wicket fence. Noel McGregor lined it up in front of 9000 hopeful fans and pouched the steepling catch. The test was all but won as bosses unconvincingly tried to contend with the evacuation of their offices downtown. A stream of traffic channelled, Pied Piper-like, towards Sandringham Rd to capture the final moments live.

7. Anthony Wilding, Christchurch, 1906

Wilding secured the Australian men's singles tennis championship of 1906, held in Christchurch. This proved the precursor to his four future Wimbledon singles titles of 1910-1913 before he died in the Great War at Ypres in 1915.

Wilding packed plenty into his 31 years. He became a pilot shortly before World War I as well as motorcycling around Europe, stopping off to play tournaments on the Riviera, as well as in the likes of Germany, Serbia, Hungary, Sweden and Norway. By all accounts, he led a clean lifestyle as well - no Andre Agassi substance abuse there. The qualified but non-practising lawyer was never inclined to booze or even sneak in a quick smoke after match point - a rarity for the day. The ladies were charmed too. When he lost the 1914 Wimbledon final, a sea of white hankies is said to have emerged to discreetly attend to moist eyes.

8. Kiwis vs Kangaroos, Auckland, 1971

New Zealand's 24-3 win over Australia at a heavy Carlaw Park meant they'd beaten the world champions by a record margin. Fearlessness conquered pain for Robert Orchard, who charged through the Australian ruck for one of the four tries. He'd broken a toe in the shower leading up to the match. The team then went on to tour Great Britain and France, winning the three-test series against both nations. Highly commended is the 18-0 win over the Kangaroos in 1985 - the first time Australia had been held scoreless by the Kiwis.

9. New Zealand vs England, Wellington, 1978

The 72-run defeat of motherland England for the first time at the Basin Reserve also ground the local economy to a halt. The largest traffic island in the Southern Hemisphere was close to gridlock, as punters sought to catch a peek of history as England's second innings crumbled. The win represented a further coming of age for 26-year-old Richard Hadlee, taking 10 wickets for 100 runs in the match.

Not to be forgotten in England's second innings of 64 was Richard Collinge taking apart the top order, starting with captain Geoffrey Boycott bowled for 1. The New Zealand first innings also included a dogged 55 from John Wright on debut. Conjecture remains about whether he tickled one to the wicketkeeper on the first ball of his international career off Bob Willis. The rest is contained in Wright's memorable book, Christmas in Rarotonga, the only autobiography to date dedicated to a thigh pad.

10. Dick Tayler, Commonwealth Games, Christchurch, 1974

Tayler took out the 10,000 metres on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. The joy was evident in his wild horse-type leaps afterwards - having been spurred on by a home crowd to a performance exceeding expectations. Prior to and during the race, when he slipped up to 40 metres behind, it seemed the only believers were Tayler and coach Arthur Lydiard. Tayler says his only regret on watching a replay of the race was seeing a man offer him a can of beer over the fence at QE II Stadium - which he completely ignored. About a year after the feat, Tayler suffered crippling arthritis which ended his running career. He's since gone on to a number of different roles, including working with DB Breweries where his first job was to visit every pub in the South Island - he says he failed the task.

He's also been president of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club for years.

Tayler gave a little-known but impassioned speech when handing out the jerseys for the unbeaten Crusaders' record 96-19 win over the Waratahs in 2002.