New Zealand will probably strike October 31st from their playing calendar from now on for twice on that day, 21 years apart, they suffered sensational defeats. The most recent, this year, saw them crash to France at Twickenham in the World Cup semi-final.
But 21 years prior to that, on October 31st, 1978 the All Blacks suffered another shocking defeat: that was the date on which Munster earned their most famous triumph when they beat Graham Mourie's New Zealand side 12-0 at Thomond Park in Limerick. It was to be the only defeat suffered by the All Blacks on their tour of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, that side becoming known as the `Grand Slam All Blacks', making Munster's victory all the more remarkable.
For those outside of Munster - all Munster rugby folk are able to recite the 15 red shirted heroes from the cradle - the following are the two teams that played that day.
Munster: L Moloney (Garryowen); M Finn (UCC), S Dennison (Garryowen), G Barrett (Cork Constitution), J Bowen (Cork Constitution); T Ward (St Mary's College), D Canniffe (Lansdowne, capt); G McLoughlin (Shannon), P Whelan (Garryowen), L White (London Irish); M Keane (Lansdowne), B Foley (Shannon); C Cantillon (Cork Constitution), D Spring (Dublin University), C Tucker (Shannon).
New Zealand: B McKechnie; B Williams, B Robertson, L Jaffray, S Wilson; E Dunn, M Donaldson; B Johnstone, J Black, G Knight; A Haden, F Oliver; G Mourie (capt), A McGregor, W Graham.
Referee: C Thomas (Wales).
