ON JUNE 7, 1978 Munster stunned the rugby world by defeating the most powerful team playing the game, the All Blacks. Thirty years later history almost repeated itself as Munster threw everything at the All Blacks only to fall short thanks to a last gasp Jon Rocofoku try.

On a night dedicated to the heroes of the 1978 panel, a packed Thomond Park turned out to watch new heroes take to the field to try and tame the mighty All Blacks.

Since 1978 rugby has changed. But there is one aspect that hasn’t changed in Munster, the pride in the jersey.

Both Munster and the All Blacks have always shown pride in their jersey whether they win or lose and as expected, we saw plenty of it on the night.

Before kick-off fans witnessed a fascinating spectacle as Munster’s New Zealand-born players performed the traditional Haka in opposition to their countrymen. The crowd were hysterical, it seemed there was not one person seated as the war dance was performed.

Afterwards a minute’s silence was held in memory of Shane Geoghegan, a rugby fan from Limerick who was ruthlessly gunned down by criminals the week before in a case of mistaken identity.

The game’s opening minutes were peppered with big hits and unforced errors, however Munster looked to be playing better rugby. The All Blacks scored a try against the run of play early on and straight away it looked as if Munster were in for a long night.

But the Heineken Cup holders came right back at New Zealand and were in the lead by the half time whistle courtesy of a Barry Murphy try and some great kicking from out-half, Paul Warwick.

It was a matter of holding on in the second half and Munster seemed to be doing so, pretty comfortably, until the Kiwi coach, Graeme Henry, decided to bring on some of his big boys towards the end. Although the home team fought hard to avoid an almost inevitable breakthrough from the All Blacks, it was in vain. With two minutes to go and Munster’s players out on their feet, Kiwi winger, Rockafoku dived over the line to break the hearts of the 25,000 gathered in Thomond Park.

When the whistle went there was a mixed reaction from the crowd with boos aimed at the referee, who had a poor game by any standards.

Each team stayed on the pitch for a long period afterwards to salute the crowd who had made the night all the more memorable.