The legendary Munster men of 1978 still stand alone.

History did not quite repeat as the All Blacks marked the 30th anniversary of one of New Zealand rugby's most famous defeats with an 18-16 victory at Thomond Park Stadium.

Winger Joe Rokocoko scored the decisive try in the 77th minute after Munster had dominated for long periods.

Expectations had not been high of another Munster victory among the 26,000-capacity crowd, especially after 10 of the province's leading players watched the match in Dublin while on Test duty with the Irish national team.

But the depleted side made a mockery of their second-string status by hoeing into the All Blacks.

It would have been an uncomfortable and eerily familiar experience for some members of the 1978 All Blacks who returned to the scene of their 12-0 loss.

Four of the side who suffered the only loss on that 18-match tour were guests for the rematch -- captain Graham Mourie, Bryan Williams, Mark Donaldson and Gary Knight.

For the New Zealanders on the Munster side, the one-off match was also a memorable occasion, particularly before kick-off when Rua Tipoki, Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi and Jeremy Manning stepped

forward to perform a rousing haka while the All

Blacks stood motionless in their own formation.

It was a gesture that brought the crowd to fever pitch, not that the occasion needed an extra spur.

Munster initially rode the wave of emotion as the All Blacks struggled to adapt to their hostile surroundings and it was an Australian who provided the home side with the start they craved.

Five-eighth Paul Warwick landed an eighth-minute penalty and, although Stephen Donald levelled the scores a minute later, the Australian poked the home side in front again with a 35m dropped goal.

Again the All Blacks muffled the crowd quickly, as Isaia Toeava handled twice before No.8 Liam Messam put Donald over the tryline by the goalposts.

Donald converted but Munster rallied superbly near halftime, pressuring the All Blacks to concede a five-metre scrum from which winger Barry Murphy scored in the corner.

Warwick converted and suddenly Munster's belief had manifested into a 16-10 halftime lead.

Donald narrowed the gap with a 45th minute penalty before the All Blacks brought on Test stars Brad Thorn and Mils Muliaina, who both had a hand in Rokocoko's match-winning try.

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