Anderson-Heather (29) captained the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions in Whangarei on Saturday.
The side was expected to struggle against the well paid professionals but more than held its own, leading at halftime before eventually going down 13-7.
Anderson-Heather said the week would linger long in the memory.
``It was a great week. The whole week was unreal. So different and very special. It was just a unique environment,'' he said.
``Leading up to the game, we were supposed to lose by something like 80 points. So we went out there with nothing to lose. The coach who had control of the team, he said `just get out there and make something happen'. You had to enjoy it then.''
Anderson-Heather scored the only try for the Barbarians team, a run from close to the line, just to the left of the posts in the latter stages of the first half.
That was a great place to score as it was right in front of family and friends who had seats right behind the dead ball area.
``I'd say in 10 or 20 years' time that run of 5m will be like 20 to 30m. It was awesome as all my family and friends were right there. All of them were going off.''
``All up, I think I had like 18 guys up there. Family, a couple of guys from the [Dunedin] Sharks, old mates from Hawkes Bay, from all across the country really.''
The team spirit spread to skipper Anderson-Heather who played only the first 40 minutes making way for Tasman hooker Andrew Makalio.
``I was a bit battered and bruised but this was a special sort of game. You wanted everyone to have a go. It would have been a shame if he had missed out.''
Makalio had a lively second 40 minutes as the Barbarians side pressed the Lions all night.
Anderson-Heather said Lions hooker Rory Best came into the changing room afterwards and had a long chat with him.
``He was a great guy. A guy who has 100-odd test caps for Ireland and he took the time to have a good yarn with me, just a club player from Dunedin. That was pretty cool.''
Anderson-Heather was back in Dunedin yesterday and will be back at work in his property maintenance job today.
His next rugby assignment is likely be playing for Dunedin on Saturday, when it takes on Harbour at Watson Park.
