In 105 years of Australia-New Zealand Tests, there have been marvellous and monstrous internationals, historic and horrific, developing from the dark ages of knee-deep mud into the enlightenment of electronically blanketed fields, accepting professionalism and discarding the purgatory of unrestricted kicking into touch.

In this minimal, unreservedly biased, galaxy of the five greatest Tests, many wonderful games have been moved aside like ancient crystal goblets.

In 1931, New Zealand's Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, presented an ornate, metre-high silver trophy for perpetual rugby battles between the Anzac nations. New Zealand won the first, 20-13.

In 1949, New Zealand went into mourning, losing all four Tests in South Africa as well as the Bledisloe Cup at home to Australia. The Wallabies stunned their hosts with 11-6 and 16-9 wins against opponents portrayed in some quarters, with 30 players in South Africa, as a "Third XV".

Captained by the immortal Trevor Allan, the Wallabies were a splendid team. The twin disasters echoed in New Zealand. Never again would they engage in simultaneous tours.

In 1934, Australia provided a 25-11 grand farewell Test to the Waratahs, Cyril Towers, Syd Malcolm and Alex Ross, regaining the cup with a 3-3 draw at the SCG. Ex-Waratah "Johnnie" Wallace praised the 1938 Test in Brisbane as the best he watched in Australia after New Zealand's 20-14 win.

Thirty years after the dual triumph in New Zealand, in 1979, Australia regained the cup with a tryless thriller, 12-6, in Sydney.

In 1980, Mark Ella and Roger Gould enjoyed their baptism of Test fire in a 13-9 win in Sydney. Two years later, without 10 leading players, Australia won in Wellington, 19-16. So many grand Tests but one stands alone.

In 2000, welcoming in Australia's first Test of the new century, a record 109,874 spectators packed into Sydney's Stadium Australia.

Even as latecomers took their seats, Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini and Christian Cullen scored converted tries. After 292 seconds, New Zealand led 21-0.

It would have been worse, fatally so, had George Gregan not seized Jonah Lomu and bulldogged the big winger into touch moments later. To everyone the Test was as good as finished, to everyone save the Wallabies.

Extraordinary deeds followed. Within half an hour of kick-off, Australia levelled the score 24-24 through tries by Stirling Mortlock, Chris Latham and Joe Roff, and actually led 27-24 through a Mortlock penalty goal. Justin Marshall scored a try and after an hour, New Zealand led again, 34-30. To patriots' disbelief, impossibly, replacement hooker Jeremy Paul scored Australia's fifth try for the Wallabies to lead, 35-34.

Two minutes from the end, deep into injury time, back-rower Taine Randell attacked the blind side down Lomu's wing. The big man swerved in towards his wing opponent, Andrew Walker, drawn infield in defence, stepped wide again and surged over for the 10th try and the final score of the game.

Asked how he felt, Lomu whispered: "Relief more than anything else. Hopefully, we did the country proud."

He did, and also the game. It was, as the headline writer penned: "The Night Heaven came to Earth."

New Zealand 39 (T Umaga, P Alatini, C Cullen, J Marshall, J Lomu tries; A Mehrtens 4 gls, 2 pens) beat Australia 35 (S Mortlock 2, J Roff, C Latham, J Paul tries; Mortlock 2 gls, 2 pens).

AUSTRALIA: Chris Latham, Stirling Mortlock, Daniel Herbert, Jason Little, Joe Roff; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Jim Williams, David Wilson, Mark Connors, John Eales, David Giffin, Fletcher Dyson, Michael Foley, Richard Harry. Res: Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Toutai Kefu, Troy Jaques, Sam Cordingley, Rod Kafer, Andrew Walker.

NEW ZEALAND: Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Alama Ieremia, Pita Alatini, Jonah Lomu; Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall; Ron Cribb, Scott Robertson, Taine Randell, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft. Res: Mark Hammett, Craig Dowd, Troy Flavell, Josh Kronfeld, Byron Kelleher, Tony Brown, Leon MacDonald.