FLASHBACK TO 1992

IN APRIL 1992, the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to celebrate its centenary year by asking the All Blacks to play three tests against a World XV.

The All Blacks were rebuilding after a disappointing World Cup in 1991 which saw a handful of older players move on. Sean Fitzpatrick was appointed as the new All Blacks captain and a handful of new and inexperienced test players came into the team – such as Frank Bunce, who played alongside the relatively inexperienced Walter Little in the midfield for the first time.

The World XV managed to lure a serious number of big names to the series – men such as Gavin Hastings, Tim Horan, Jason Little, Phil Kearns and Jeremy Guscott.

The visitors were good enough to win the first test 28-14 in Christchurch, but the All Blacks bounced back with a better performance in Wellington to win 26-15, before running wild at Eden Park with a 54-26 victory.

That third test became memorable because the World XV, had to call up former All Blacks captain Gary Whetton as they had an injury crisis at lock. Whetton had captained the All Blacks at the 1991 World Cup but was unwanted the following year – giving him plenty of incentive to play out of his skin for the World XV against his former teammates.