All Black captain Todd Blackadder was like a kid at the fair for the first time when he arrived at Sydney's imposing Stadium Australia for Saturday night's Tri Nations clash against Australia.

A few hours later he left the stadium still amazed - not so much by the Olympic Games facilities but the way in which his side had just scored a remarkable 39-35 victory against the Wallabies.

The inspirational and humble leader knew the Wallabies would bounce back after trailing 24-0 after just seven minutes.

"It's the first time I've ever played in one of these Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations matches, and to look at the stadium on the way in, all the people, all the car parks ...you could fit the whole of Christchurch in here," Blackadder said.

"It was a dream start for us, the boys were on fire. But we knew the Australians were a great side, they are the world champions, and they weren't going to lie down.

"It was a great occasion, a truly great game of rugby. It was a game that was in the balance all the way to the end and could have gone either way."

Former captain Taine Randell, who played one of his best games in All Black colours at blindside flanker, joined the chorus of superlatives describing the encounter as one of the best Test ever.

Randell through the final, overhead pass for Jonah Lomu to score the match-winning try.

"It was just such an amazing game," Randell said. "I have never seen or played in anything like that before. Nobody could believe it in the dressing room later.

"Irrespective of what's happened in the past, this was a great game to be part of. It was a great occasion and boy was it great to win."