You could have heard a pin drop during the grog session as the national rugby team were thrashed by the All Blacks 71-5.

According to an article published by The Fiji Times on June 16, 1997, Fiji reserve and Counties wing Jona Qio said the loss was taken very badly by the players because they did not expect such a walloping.

“Everybody was feeling down. Hardly anybody spoke after the game and we spent just about half-an-hour at the after-match function,” Qio said as the national team prepared to return home.

“We had a little grog when we got back from the function but hardly anybody spoke.”

The New Zealand-based wing said before the game that everybody had expected it to be good tussle.

“But the All Blacks had been here (Albany) for a while and had been playing at night in worse conditions than last night.

“The cold must have really gotten to the Fiji boys because it was really cold out there.

“It was nice and hot during the day, but the decision had already been made that we would play in the evening. But credit must also go to the All Blacks. They were just too good.”

Some Fijian players who left camp at Poe Namo Hotel in Auckland after the game for a night out had still not returned to the hotel.

Qio said team coach Brad Johnston was supposed to have had a talk with them the previous day, but he could not because some of the players were still missing.

He said in his opinion, the Counties-Fiji encounter was stronger than the match on Saturday night.

The team was expected to arrive at the Nadi International Airport after lunch to prepare for the match against Tonga in Suva.