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Rugby

Ryan Crotty's stadium silencer - is it one of the Aviva's greatest moments?

What has been the greatest rugby moment at the AVIVA Stadium over the last decade? There have bee...



Ryan Crotty's stadium silencer...
Rugby

Ryan Crotty's stadium silencer - is it one of the Aviva's greatest moments?

What has been the greatest rugby moment at the AVIVA Stadium over the last decade? There have been plenty, but is Ryan Crotty's match-winning try against us one of them?

Former Munster, Ireland, and Lions star Alan Quinlan joined Ger and Eoin on OTB AM as we look to crown the best moment at the stadium over the last 10 years - Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Ciarán Kelly's four penalty saves in the 2010 FAI Cup final topped the soccer poll last week.

Quinlan only managed to play there with Munster a couple of times prior to his retirement, but said we've had plenty of big moments that stand out for him.

"There have been a few rugby highs over the last number of years for sure. I only played in the AVIVA Stadium a couple of times myself before I finished.

"My first game there was against Leinster, we lost that of course, but certainly there have been some important and special days in the last 10 years there."

The late, late Ryan Crotty try in the defeat to the All Blacks in 2013 may seem like a strange moment to have in the conversation for 'Greatest Aviva Moments' - but there's an argument to be made it spurred Ireland on to resulting wins over the same opposition.

24 November 2013; New Zealand's Ryan Crotty is congratulated by Aaron Cruden, 10, after scoring a late try. Guinness Series International, Ireland v New Zealand, Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

"That game was played [on TV] only last week and I was watching back over it. I'm sure that burns away at the players, the vast majority of those guys got to go on and beat New Zealand a couple of times in Chicago and then in Dublin a couple of games later.

"19-0 up against New Zealand, you're kind of pinching yourself... then they make that comeback. I just cannot believe, watching the end of that game again when Crotty scores in the corner, it's just disbelief really.

"Ireland were doing everything pretty much right to close out the game, it was the 80th minute, I think it was a very harsh penalty given away against Jack McGrath.

"Probably legally and technically correct, but there are so many of these given at different breakdowns. It was just heartbreak for Ireland in the end, but it showed how good that group of New Zealand players were."

Jamie Heaslip's World Try of the Year against Italy in 2016 is one of the other moments in the long-list, as is Jacob Stockdale's try in the game we did win against the All Blacks in Dublin.

You'll have the chance to vote all week - keep an eye on the pinned tweet on our Twitter page @offtheball!

Aviva Ireland has been a proud sponsor of the Aviva Stadium for 10 years. 4. Since 2010, over 7.2 million fans from around the world have attended matches at the Aviva Stadium. We’re encouraging fans to tell us your favourite moments from the iconic venue by following Aviva Ireland on Instagram and Twitter and sharing them using #SafeToDream

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#SafeToDream Alan Quinlan Aviva Ireland Leinster Rugby Off The Ball Robbie Henshaw Rugby Saracens