Munster Poised to Reignite 100-Year Rivalry Against the All Blacks XV Live on NZR+

Munster possibly ranks as New Zealand’s most challenging opponent outside Test matches.

Prestigious Welsh clubs and some South African provinces might contest that notion, but few can match the consistency with which Munster sides, playing at either Limerick or Cork, have managed to confound New Zealand representative sides.

Yet, they have won only one game against the All Blacks: in 1978, when they won 12-0, the only loss Graham Mourie's men suffered on their first Grand Slam tour to the British and Irish Isles.

ALL BLACKS XV v MUNSTER IS STREAMING FREE ON NZR+ INTO OVER 150 COUNTRIES (EXCLUDING NZ, IRELAND AND UK - CHECK YOUR LOCAL PROVIDER IN THOSE REGIONS).

So outstanding was that win that books, plays and poems have been written about it.

While it was their only win, the difficulties, particularly in breaching Munster's defences, have made the relationship such a memorable one.

It stretches across 119 years from the time Dave Gallaher's Originals achieved the highest score against them when winning 33-0, a game in which wing H.L. 'Bunny' Abbott scored three tries. But the margin then did not indicate how lively the contests would become.

Forty-nine years lapsed until they met again when Bob Stuart's 1953-54 tourists scrambled to a 6-3 win courtesy of tries to wing John Tanner and second five-eighths Doug Wilson.

Wilson Whineray's side of 1963-64 won by the same margin thanks to centre Ian MacRae's try and a penalty goal from Mack Herewini, who was giving Don Clarke a break at fullback after the 6-5 win over Ireland a few days earlier.

In 1973, in a warm-up game before the 10-10 drawn Test against Ireland that prevented Ian Kirkpatrick's side from claiming the first Grand Slam, Munster got their closest when holding the All Blacks to 3-3, with fullback Trevor Morris kicking a penalty goal in injury time to save New Zealand's hide.

As the guests of Ireland's Rugby Union for its centenary in 1974, the All Blacks managed a 14-4 win over Munster with tries to wings Grant Batty and Bryan Williams and two penalty goals by fullback Joe Karam.

And after the 1978 loss in which Stu Wilson famously claimed the All Blacks were lucky to score nil, they did not meet again until 1989 when Alex Wyllie's side were in their pomp and claimed a 31-9 win at Cork as Graeme Bachop, Craig Innes, Murray Pierce and John Schuster scored tries with Grant Fox landing three conversions and three penalty goals. As an aside, Wyllie captained the 1972-73 side against Munster.

In 2008, for the first time in the professional era, the All Blacks played Munster during a Test tour, and once again, another generation of New Zealanders learned how hard it was to contain local enthusiasm. Down 10-16 at halftime, it took the injection of wing Joe Rokocoko, lock Brad Thorn and fullback Mils Muliaina to lift the All Blacks and see Rokocoko scored in the 77th minute to give them an 18-16 win.

In that game, the significance of the bond between Munster and New Zealand was reflected as four Kiwis, Rua Tipoki, Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, and Jeremy Manning, lined out against their compatriots.

Many others have followed their path, including All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland, who played for Ireland A while representing the club 102 times across nine years. All Blacks legend Christian Cullen spent time with the side, as did fellow All Blacks Casey Laulala, Sam Tuitupou, Francis Saili and Alby Mathewson.

In 2016, another chapter in the special rivalry was written when the Māori All Blacks went down 27-14 to a Munster side who were motivated by the sudden passing of their inspirational coach Anthony 'Axel' Foley.

MATCH DETAILS: Saturday 2 November: All Blacks XV v Munster, 6.30AM GMT (Sunday 3 November, 6.30am NZT), Thomond Park Limerick, Ireland

WATCH: The match will be streamed live and free into over 150 countries (excluding New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom*) on NZR+. Register on NZR+ HERE to access 100s of hours of original content, including behind the scenes footage, highlights, documentaries, archival content, podcasts and much more.

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