There are plenty of doom-sayers out there, those who are questioning the point of reviving the North-South clash. But if nothing else, it is a game that can throw up the unexpected. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn winds the clock back to look at a couple of games which have lingered in the memory.
1980
North ... 13
South ... 9
Palmerston North
This game was a chance for plenty of players to make the national side, after the All Blacks returned defeated from a tour of Australia.
Players such as Gary Knight, Brad Johnstone and Dave Loveridge were dumped, while Frank Oliver switched his allegiance to the North, playing his provincial rugby for Manawatu.
But the game will be remembered for the huge downpour on the morning of the game. It absolutely bucketed down in Palmerston North and the showgrounds, where the match was played, resembled a lake by mid-morning.
This was in the days before covered stadiums and ultra-efficient drainage.
The Palmerston North fire brigade came to the rescue and in the hours before the game pumped more than 22,500 litres of water off the ground.
The game went ahead, but there was still plenty of water lying around. Rucks did not last for long, as there were fears players would become trapped in a bad position in the water.
The match was scoreless at the break, but the North scored two tries in the second half to go up 13-3. Near the end, Otago centre Shane Gibbons managed to weave his way over and score in a splashdown.
A repeat of the flooded predicament is unlikely on Sunday, and we all know why.
1982
South ... 22
North ... 12
Wanganui
After losing the last couple of years, a broom was swept through the South team, and coach Alistair "Spud" Tait brought in some complete unknowns.
New faces called in were Mid Canterbury pair Geoff Frew and Murray Roulston, Nelson Bays No 8 Will Dempster, and a fresh-faced medical student from the University of Otago by the name of David Kirk.
Most pundits picked an easy win for the North, which had the likes of Andy Haden, Gary Whetton and Stu Wilson. Graham Mourie captained the North.
Thirty years later he will coach the same team.
The South did not lie down and the North led just 4-3 at the break.
In the second half, the South just took over. Steve Pokere scored a try, while Kirk helped set up a try for centre Victor Simpson.
The South was getting a roll on and when lock Jim Love and winger Gary Hooper went over, the writing looked on the wall for the North and all its superstars.
The North attempted a comeback but it was too far behind and it was a huge upset for the South.
Love had a fine game for the South, and fullback Allan Hewson had a stinker for the North.
The inter-island games were obviously not agreeing with Hewson. The year before, he went off early at Carisbrook, suffering from hypothermia.
