i think even at 10-0 down in the final we weren't looking too bad - back in those days the wind was important and it had been blowing a bit that day. but that try to Fitzpatrick knocked the stuffing out of our guys and we then basically stopped playing until Walter scored his miracle try that even gave us a shot leading to the final whistle.

but how good was the Canterbury semifinal - we'd lost to them in the round match (our only loss), and then proceeded to put on over 50 points against the current Ranfurly Shield holders (who only had it because they got to play a weak Waikato the week before us). the sun was out, this hot girl that i'd met at Uni a week earlier was next to me wearing a bikini, we were all boozed up and covered in facepaint, and it even sounded as if Auckland were going to lose their semi in Otago (mine, by contrast, was going strong)

and that win over France - the same France that beat the All Blacks 2-0 - we were in effect the Auckland of the 94 season. except for that damn final. how did that happen? the saddest part was the realisation i had about 2 days later that 1994 was "our year" yet we didn't manage to get the silverware. we had a forward pack (and front row in particular) that just gelled, and for one of the few times in our history were able to compete with anyone. it was clear that if we were ever going to win the NPC, it was that year, and that we had missed our chance. unfortunately 2005 confirmed this, despite us beating Auckland twice (the first and only time that's happened), and despite us putting 60 points on Otago in a must-win game to make the semis.

but still, bring back 1994 ...

Regards
Colin