As the build-up for the first ever meeting in a Rugby World Cup final between arch-rivals Australia and New Zealand intensifies, we take a look back at the top 10 most momentous, dramatic and hyped trans-Tasman sporting clashes of all time. 

• Battle-hardened Wallabies primed for RWC glory
• Genia driven by 2003 World Cup heartbreak
• How the Wallabies can achieve the impossible
• Pocock determined to create World Cup history

10. Olympic Field Hockey Gold Medal Match (1976)

In arguably the most notable Olympics showdown between the nations, the gritty New Zealand side claimed Field Hockey gold with a historic 1-0 defeat of Australia in the final at Montreal. The Australian men’s team would have to wait until 2004 to claim their maiden Olympic gold.

9. Rugby League World Cup Final (1988)

The 1988 World Cup final was the biggest occasion in New Zealand’s rugby league history to that point, hosting the decider at a sold-out Eden Park, the spiritual home of rugby union. Beaten in the teams’ previous clash in Brisbane a year earlier, Australia talked the confident Kiwis into favouritism – before dismantling the black-and-whites in front of 47,363 deflated fans. Australian captain Wally Lewis left the field at halftime with a broken arm, but by that stage the visitors were already ahead 21-0, and a double to 22-year-old halfback Allan Langer saw the green-and-golds ease to a 25-12 victory.

8. Rugby World Cup Semi-Final (1991)

Inaugural champions New Zealand were a fading, ageing force by the time the second World Cup rolled around, hamstrung by an ill-fated co-coaching set-up featuring Alex Wyllie and John Hart. Australia, on the other hand, were on the cusp of a halcyon era with young stars Tim Horan, Jason Little, Phil Kearns and John Eales complementing the experienced core of Michael Lynagh, David Campese, Simon Poidevin and captain Nick Farr-Jones.

Campese, who caused a stir by refusing to face the All Blacks’ haka, was the star of the Dublin semi-final, scoring a brilliant solo try and laying on another for Horan with a breathtaking no-look pass. The Wallabies went on to defeat England in the final, while the All Blacks’ coaching team was sacked and five players never donned the jumper again after the 16-6 loss.

7. Netball World Championships Final (1999)

Australia and New Zealand have dominated international netball, winning all 14 World Championships since 1963 between them and contesting all five Commonwealth Games gold medal matches to date. The most dramatic clash was undoubtedly the 1999 final in Christchurch, when the arch-rivals were locked 41-all in the dying moments.

6. Tri-Nations & Bledisloe Cup Test (2000)

Widely regarded as the greatest game in Test rugby history, the All Blacks and world champion Wallabies turned on an epic contest befitting of a world record 109,874-strong crowd turnout at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. New Zealand stormed to a 21-0 lead with three tries in the opening five minutes, but Australia incredibly clawed back to lead 27-24 at halftime. The hosts reclaimed a one-point lead with eight minutes left when Jeremy Paul scored, but a late try to legendary All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu secured a 39-35 win.

5. Cricket World Cup Opener (1992)

Australia opened the 1992 World Cup with co-hosts New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park – and with names like Border, Boon, Waugh, Healy, Jones and McDermott in their ranks, the defending champs were expected to dominate. But a memorable unbeaten century by captain Martin Crowe saw New Zealand through to 6/248, before the Kiwis’ unheralded slow bowling contingent and brilliant fielding saw Australia crumble to 211 all out – despite a slashing ton by David Boon. Australia ultimately missed the knockout stages, while New Zealand went on a memorable charge to be the top qualifiers for the semis, where they dipped out to eventual winners Pakistan.

4. Rugby World Cup Semi-Final (2003)

The All Blacks, as per usual, were overwhelming favourites to win the Australia-hosted 2003 World Cup, but the Wallabies channelled the ghosts of 1991 to pull off a convincing upset at the semi-final stage. Australia never looked back after centre Stirling Mortlock’s 80-metre intercept try during the first half, grinding out a 22-10 triumph and consigning New Zealanders to four more years of World Cup heartache, as Wallabies skipper George Gregan famously and not-so-subtly reminded his vanquished opponents in the latter stages.

3. Rugby League World Cup Final (2008)

Australia had not lost a World Cup in 36 years heading into the 2008 instalment, and after the Darren Lockyer-led Kangaroos annihilated the competition during pool play – including a 30-6 win over New Zealand in the tournament opener – they were expected to make short work of the Kiwis in the Suncorp Stadium final.

The green-and-golds shot out to a 10-0 lead and held a four-point advantage at halftime, but the Kiwis refused to thrown in the towel. An infamous error by Australian fullback Billy Slater on the hour mark proved the pivotal moment, gifting a try to Kiwis linchpin Benji Marshall as the rank outsiders powered to a euphoric 34-20 success.

2. Rugby World Cup Semi-Final (2011)

Arguably no match had been as feverishly anticipated in rugby-mad New Zealand as the 2011 semi-final against Australia at Eden Park. The all-conquering All Blacks were simultaneously chasing their first World Cup crown since 1987 and attempting to quell the demons of losses to the Wallabies in 1991 and 2003. Although only one try was scored – a sensational effort set up by Israel Dagg and finished off by Ma’a Nonu – the All Blacks dominated from the outset and stormed into the final on the back of a 20-6 win.

1. Cricket World Cup Final (2015)

Co-hosts New Zealand, who had never featured in a final, and four-time champs Australia set up a mouth-watering decider at the MCG earlier this year, arguably superseding the hype produced by any previous trans-Tasman sporting contest. The Black Caps had pulled off a pulsating one-wicket win in Auckland during pool play, but when Mitchell Starc rattled the stumps of master blaster Brendon McCullum in the first over of the final, the Kiwis’ hopes evaporated. New Zealand were dismissed for 183 and the Michael Clarke-led Aussies cruised to a seven-wicket win with 17 overs to spare.