Final Farewell to the House of Pain

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8851050/Carisbrook-down-by-Christmas

Dunedin's Carisbrook was replaced by the fancy new covered Forsyth-Barr Stadium at University Oval as both an international and provincial rugby venue back in 2011, now it's final fate as been sealed with its sale to a building contractor and a demolition plan in place. Carisbrook (aside from the hospitality complex and the Category 1 listed historic brick turnstyles) will be gone by Christmas. The stadium's lighting towers live on, having been moved to Rugby League Park in Christchurch when that ground became the home of the Crusaders following the destruction of Lancaster Park in the 2011 earthquake

Sadly the ground has become the center of off-field controversy in recent years, the Otago Rugby Union sold it to the Dunedin City Council for $7m (£3.6m) in 2009 in order to stave off bankruptcy. That purchase, coupled with the cost of the new stadium nearly bankrupted the City Council in turn. And no doubt Dunedin voters will have noted the bargain basement price DCC received to off-load the Brook - $3.5m, half what it paid.

Carisbrook opened in 1883, hosting a touring Tasmanian cricket team, and over it's 130 years earned its "House of Pain" nickname as a graveyard for visiting rugby and cricket teams.

I remember well my road trip from Christchurch to Dunedin in 1999 for the "Blackout" test vs the Springboks in 1999. Virtually the entire crowd was festooned in black, and incredibly vocal - it's the only time I've seen a Bok side cowed by crowd noise. Percy Montgomery had a nightmare at fullback, and the AB's turned it on for a 28-0 win over the Old Rival.

• 1886 22 November – First international cricket match at Carisbrook, Otago v Australia
  
• 1908 30 May – First Otago Rugby defeat of international side, Anglo-Welsh
  
• 1908 30 June – First Rugby test at Carisbrook (NZ v Anglo-Welsh)
  
• 1922 17 June – New Zealand's first full international football (soccer) match, a 3–1 win to New Zealand over Australia
  
• 1924 9 August – First Rugby League Test at Carisbrook (NZ v England Lions)
  
• 1930 21 June – First All Black defeat at Carisbrook (by Great Britain)
  
• 1936 1 August – First Ranfurly Shield match at Carisbrook
  
• 1955 11 March – First cricket test at Carisbrook
  
• 1956 3–6 February – First NZ cricket test victory at Carisbrook
  
• 1987 May–June – Rugby World Cup games (Italy 18, Fiji 15; Ireland 46, Canada 19)
  
• 1992 12 March – Cricket World Cup (New Zealand vs India)
  
• 1992 27 September – First extra time in a rugby match in New Zealand (Otago 26, North Harbour 23)
  
• 1993 July - Rugby, New Zealand verses Australia, largest attendance at the ground, 42 000.
  
• 1996 3 March – First Super12 match at Carisbrook (Otago Highlanders 57, Queensland 17)
  
• 1998 25 October – National Provincial Championship Division 1 Final (Otago vs Waikato)
  
• 1999 29 May – 1999 Super12 Final (Highlanders vs Crusaders)
  
• 1999 12–21 November – Group stage matches and one quarter-final of the FIFA Under-17 Soccer World Championship
  
• 2005 27 August – The last International Rugby match (All Blacks 31, South Africa 27) before the NZRFU deemed Carisbrook to no longer be a suitable venue for International Rugby
  
• 2008 12 July – After a 3 year absence of International Rugby at Carisbrook a Tri Nations match between All Blacks and South Africa was played. At the same time this was South Africa's first win at Carisbrook after beating the All Blacks 30–28.
  
• 2010 19 June – The last official rugby test against a "Tier 1" nation was played at the ground (All Blacks vs Wales), with the All Blacks winning 42–9.
  
• 2011 3 June – The final Highlanders match at Carisbrook saw the Force defeat the Highlanders 21–14.
  
• 2011 22 July – The All Blacks defeated Fiji 60–14 in the final Test match, which served as a fundraiser for Christchurch earthquake relief
  
• 2012 January - Dismantlement begins with floodlight towers being sent to Christchurch.
  

Sad to see the Brook go in terms of memories. But if you pay big money to see a test it makes to have a closed stadium in Dunedin. Saw a couple of tests there but strangely remember the Otago games of the 90s more.

Lots of crazy memories with Dunedin. Undie 500, demolition parties, crates at the Cook. Don't know how any of my friends got any study done there. In the case of a certain ex All Black I know for a fact he didn't achieve squat!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sad to see the Brook go in terms of memories. But if you pay big money to see a test it makes to have a closed stadium in Dunedin. Saw a couple of tests there but strangely remember the Otago games of the 90s more.

Lots of crazy memories with Dunedin. Undie 500, demolition parties, crates at the Cook. Don't know how any of my friends got any study done there. In the case of a several certain ex All Blacks I know for a fact he didn't achieve squat!

Fixed that for you

Marc Ellis reportedly failed "Introduction to Physical Education"* 5 times. A feat only topped by John Timu (6)


*Back when I was a student the easiest paper at the University of Canterbury was COSC110 Introduction to Computer Science (with tutorials explaining how to use a mouse and similar - plus it was all taught on Apple Macs). Int Phys Ed was the Otago equivalent. 

Don't know personally that many ABs Pete!

I remember those mac labs under the library. Good times.

Matches or weekends in Dunedin come back to me a lot less easily. If at all.

The Brook was certainly better than Athletic Park but that's like saying a flanker's cabbage ears are not as bad as a lock's. Gutted the Boks won in 2008 to break the Brook cherry.

Out of interest, what will they be building there in its place? For a country of its size NZ probably does have too many stadia.

GunsGerms wrote:Out of interest, what will they be building there in its place? For a country of its size NZ probably does have too many stadia.

Houses probably.

They've already got the "Glasshouse" (Forsyth Barr stadium) 1st used in the RWC, which holds 30,000 for rugby games. As far as stadium numbers go, we've got 4* rugby stadiums with capacity over 30,000 - Eden Park, Albany Stadium (on Auckland's North Shore), the Cake Tin & the Glasshouse. If you include GAA stadiums Ireland has more large capacity stadiums IIRC, for a similar population. Given the geographic spread of NZ (roughly the same land area as the UK & Ireland combined) we've always had a policy of sharing internationals around the larger cities - it's nearly an hour's flight from Auckland to Wellington, and similar again to Chch.




*It was 5 pre-Chch earchquake

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Out of interest, what will they be building there in its place? For a country of its size NZ probably does have too many stadia.

Houses probably.

They've already got the "Glasshouse" (Forsyth Barr stadium) 1st used in the RWC, which holds 30,000 for rugby games. As far as stadium numbers go, we've got 4* rugby stadiums with capacity over 30,000 - Eden Park, Albany Stadium (on Auckland's North Shore), the Cake Tin & the Glasshouse. If you include GAA stadiums Ireland has more large capacity stadiums IIRC, for a similar population. Given the geographic spread of NZ (roughly the same land area as the UK & Ireland combined) we've always had a policy of sharing internationals around the larger cities - it's nearly an hour's flight from Auckland to Wellington, and similar again to Chch.


*It was 5 pre-Chch earchquake

Ireland should really have municipal stadia whereby Rugby, Football and GAA share grounds. The reason they dont is because until recently it was the GAA's policy to alienate itself from non indigenous sport for political reasons (google bloody Sunday). This is no longer the case but we are left with a legacy of too many stadia.

Havent posted on here for an age but want to put my memories of Carisbrook here with a B+I  Lions (Lions) slant. Seeing as its topical!!

1977. Otago game. Still remember Phil Bennett playing and being like no other #10 Id ever seen before. We outscored Lions 1 try to nil but bennett kicked 4 pens to win game. Other notables in Lions that game included JJ Williams, Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Graham Price and Andy Irvine. Irvine played for Scotland vs Otago in 1975 and lost 19-6. Irvine and Bennett both had side-steps the likes Id never seen. (Dad couldnt afford 2 tickets for the test in 77. He got 1!)

1983 3rd Test. Series 1-1.
An infamous day for AB rugby when Allen Hewson wore gloves because of the cold.
1st time ever and hewson never lived it down. The NZ rugby public like our players to be men!! (even though Hewson kicked us to victory after Lions scored 2 tries to 1 but missed every shot at goal!) 15-8 ABs
Notable Lions. Price and Peter Wheeler. Not too many other greats. Gwen Evans at fullback anybody?
In fairness to Hewson several players (Backs!!) were in the early stages of hypothermia by the end of the game!

That was the last Lions time I saw play live at Carisbrook.

My father still talks of the likes of Tony O'Reilly being an absolute star the day Don Clarke kicked 6 pens to beat 4 Lions tries and of the 1971 side that thumped Otago. Barry John, Gareth Edwards, JPR, WJMcB, Gerald Davies .... Legends of rugby.

Those were different times. Radio commentaries and no over analysis by media pundits and armchair critics on internet forums!

For what its worth I have found the Lions/Aust series utterly absorbing. Cant wait for the decider. Only downside is having to watch 2013 Highlanders as a curtainraiser! Tough viewing.

Biggest Carisbrook regret? Never seeing Otago play a Ranfurly Shield game there.

Gunner wrote:Havent posted on here for an age but want to put my memories of Carisbrook here with a B+I  Lions (Lions) slant. Seeing as its topical!!

1977. Otago game. Still remember Phil Bennett playing and being like no other #10 Id ever seen before. We outscored Lions 1 try to nil but bennett kicked 4 pens to win game. Other notables in Lions that game included JJ Williams, Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Graham Price and Andy Irvine. Irvine played for Scotland vs Otago in 1975 and lost 19-6. Irvine and Bennett both had side-steps the likes Id never seen. (Dad couldnt afford 2 tickets for the test in 77. He got 1!)

1983 3rd Test. Series 1-1.
An infamous day for AB rugby when Allen Hewson wore gloves because of the cold.
1st time ever and hewson never lived it down. The NZ rugby public like our players to be men!! (even though Hewson kicked us to victory after Lions scored 2 tries to 1 but missed every shot at goal!) 15-8 ABs
Notable Lions. Price and Peter Wheeler. Not too many other greats. Gwen Evans at fullback anybody?
In fairness to Hewson several players (Backs!!) were in the early stages of hypothermia by the end of the game!

That was the last Lions time I saw play live at Carisbrook.

My father still talks of the likes of Tony O'Reilly being an absolute star the day Don Clarke kicked 6 pens to beat 4 Lions tries and of the 1971 side that thumped Otago. Barry John, Gareth Edwards, JPR, WJMcB, Gerald Davies .... Legends of rugby.

Those were different times. Radio commentaries and no over analysis by media pundits and armchair critics on internet forums!

For what its worth I have found the Lions/Aust series utterly absorbing. Cant wait for the decider. Only downside is having to watch 2013 Highlanders as a curtainraiser! Tough viewing.

Biggest Carisbrook regret? Never seeing Otago play a Ranfurly Shield game there.

That was a great read I must say. A window into a part of the world I have never travelled to and an era before my time, just. As for the Lions tour it always draws me in and I love Lions tours. However, while the rugby hasnt been great this time so far the matches have still been absorbing as you say.

Gunner wrote:
1977. Otago game. Still remember Phil Bennett playing and being like no other #10 Id ever seen before. We outscored Lions 1 try to nil but bennett kicked 4 pens to win game. Other notables in Lions that game included JJ Williams, Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Graham Price and Andy Irvine. Irvine played for Scotland vs Otago in 1975 and lost 19-6. Irvine and Bennett both had side-steps the likes Id never seen. (Dad couldnt afford 2 tickets for the test in 77. He got 1!)

Remember that tour and match very well- 12-7 from memory (and havnt looked it up). Bevan Wilson got his start there in what ended up being a short AB FB career but he starred in the 3rd test follwing- also at Carisbrook 19-7 from memory again.

Loved that tour and it was my first real one to follow at 14 odd. Bennet had a huge sidestep while Irvine was more a direction changer at pace- both were standouts on the tour but unfortunately not in the tests...seemingly typical of all Lions tours since.

Taylorman wrote:

Gunner wrote:
1977. Otago game. Still remember Phil Bennett playing and being like no other #10 Id ever seen before. We outscored Lions 1 try to nil but bennett kicked 4 pens to win game. Other notables in Lions that game included JJ Williams, Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Graham Price and Andy Irvine. Irvine played for Scotland vs Otago in 1975 and lost 19-6. Irvine and Bennett both had side-steps the likes Id never seen. (Dad couldnt afford 2 tickets for the test in 77. He got 1!)

Remember that tour and match very well- 12-7 from memory (and havnt looked it up). Bevan Wilson got his start there in what ended up being a short AB FB career but he starred in the 3rd test follwing- also at Carisbrook 19-7 from memory again.

Loved that tour and it was my first real one to follow at 14 odd. Bennet had a huge sidestep while Irvine was more a direction changer at pace- both were standouts on the tour but unfortunately not in the tests...seemingly typical of all Lions tours since.

Taylorman.

That was a great tour. Some of my earliest rugby memories are from the 77 Lions. I was too young to put it in context at the time. I presume after one of the greatest Lions teams ever had beaten us in 71 the NZ rugby public was eager for revenge. Every school kid had the Lions itinerary on their bedroom wall that we updated after each game (do they still produce these or do 7 year old kids tweet about games now!). It was that game that made me realise that the toe kicker in rugby (Wilson) was gonna be superceded by the round the corner kicker (Bennett). Wilson was a good solid player from the Matakanui Valley but I doubt he'd get near an ABs side today. He replaced the great Colin Farrell for the 3rd test and kicked us to victory. Poor Colin was never seen again in an AB jersey!

As an aside another interesting day spent at Carisbrook was at an ODI vs Aust in the late 90s. NZ chasin 250 odd for victory were well placed at 120 for 6 (tongue in cheek!) when Brett Lee bowled an absolute snorter to Adam Parore who just managed to jerk his head out of the way. Only problem was Parore's helmet fell on the stumps and he was given out. Why he never did the strap on his helmet when facing Lee only Adam could tell you. Anyway as Lee strutted down to fine leg (scoreboard end of terrace) a barrage of Speights cans rained down on him. People had been drinkin heavily in the sun for 7 hours and needed a scapegoat. Lee was the man!!! Game delayed till police regained order. After that day you could never buy a can of Speights at Carisbrook.

Ah the memories. But time moves on.
Went back to NZ for RWC and the new stadium is magnificient for watching rugby.
Unfortunately there is no "Scotsmans Grandsatand"!!!

It is no  coincidence that the House of Pain was NZ`s Rugbys most difficult venue.
Either side of the WW2 Vic Snr.and Vic Jnr.[Cavanagh] rebuilt NZ Rugby after the
2-3-2 was outlawed post Lions tour in the 30`s.
NZ adopted the Bok 3-4-1 Scrum without mastering the dynamics[until Dr .Danie Craven
fixed it for them during 1949 tour.
Otago played second phase Rugby based around the RUCK a 2-3-2 Scrum in disguise nothing was attempted from set play.
Tries were scored by the standard set play moves FB in,Blindside wing in etc.Vic`s attitude
was.Come and play us and we will beat you by as many points as we can !!!!
Otago packs were better than the All Black packs and The Cavanaghs ran teams like a Swiss
Clock.The" Otago Game "became a thing of legend or derision depending on your point of view.
That neither Coached the All Blacks was traversty many lesser mortals did so.