2008 Tri Nations Series

2008 Tri Nations Series
Date 5 July 13 September
Final positions
Champions  New Zealand (9th title)
Bledisloe Cup  New Zealand
Freedom Cup  New Zealand
Mandela Challenge Plate  Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played 9
Tries scored 43 (4.78 per match)
Attendance 444,707 (49,412 per match)
Top scorer(s) Dan Carter (82)
Most tries Jongi Nokwe (4)
2007
2009

The 2008 Tri Nations Series was the thirteenth annual Tri Nations competition between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The All Blacks won the series on 13 September 2008 after defeating Australia in the last match of the series.

Background

This was the first Tri Nations tournament after South Africa's 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, and they went into the competition as the top team in the IRB World Rankings (having ended a 175-week run for New Zealand). On 30 June 2008, before the tournament began, New Zealand and Australia were ranked second and third in the world respectively.[1]

The All Blacks went into the series with a world record 29 successive home victories,[2][3] and South Africa with a 13 match winning streak.[4]

By the end of the tournament New Zealand had retaken top place in the IRB World Rankings. After 26 weeks at number one, South Africa slipped to second. Australia remained third.

The final match of the Bledisloe Cup series between Australia and New Zealand took place after the Tri-Nations, on November 1 (the first 3 matches of the series were part of the Tri-Nations).

Experimental Law Variations

Several of the sport's Experimental Law Variations (or ELVs) were trialled as part of the 2008 Tri Nations.[5] A global trial of 13 ELVs at all levels is to be conducted for one year from 1 August 2008.[6] The Tri Nation's governing body SANZAR approved the trial of all the ELVs that had been included in the 2008 Super 14 season, as well as the ELVs to be trialled globally. Statistics from the 2008 Super 14 revealed the ELVs increased the number of tries, reduced the number of line-outs and penalties, increased the number of free kicks, but did not change the number of scrums or mauls.[7] The changes increased the attacking opportunities from scrums.[8]

Standings

Place Nation Games Points Bonus
points
Table
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 New Zealand 6402152106+46319
2 Australia 6303119163−44214
3 South Africa 6204115117−2210

Fixtures

5 July 2008[9]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand  19–8  South Africa
Try: Kaino 45' c
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter (4) 5', 21', 29', 71'
Try: Habana 37' m
Pen: James 6'
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
FB 15Mils Muliaina
RW 14Rudi Wulf
OC 13Conrad Smith
IC 12Ma'a Nonu
LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu  69'
FH 10Dan Carter
SH 9 Andrew Ellis  74'
N8 8 Jerome Kaino
OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF 6 Adam Thomson  61'
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville  74'
HK 2 Andrew Hore  72'
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16Keven Mealamu  72'
PR 17Neemia Tialata  74'
LK 18Anthony Boric
N8 19Sione Lauaki  61'
SH 20Jimmy Cowan  74'
FH 21Stephen Donald
FB 22Leon MacDonald  69'
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA:
FB 15Conrad Jantjes  63'
RW 14Odwa Ndungane
OC 13Adrian Jacobs
IC 12Jean de Villiers
LW 11Bryan Habana
FH 10Butch James  58'
SH 9 Ricky Januarie  72'
N8 8 Joe van Niekerk  58'
OF 7 Juan Smith
BF 6 Schalk Burger
RL 5 Victor Matfield
LL 4 Bakkies Botha  72'
TP 3 CJ van der Linde  46'
HK 2 John Smit (c)  38'
LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK 16Bismarck du Plessis  38'
PR 17Brian Mujati  46'
LK 18Andries Bekker  72'
FL 19Luke Watson  58'
SH 20Bolla Conradie  72'
FH 21Francois Steyn  58'
FB 22Percy Montgomery  63'
Coach:
South Africa Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
AustraliaMatt Goddard
AustraliaPaul Marks
Television match official:
Australia George Ayoub


12 July 2008[10]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand  28–30  South Africa
Tries: Lauaki c
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter (6)
Drop: Carter
Tries: Pietersen, Januarie c
Con: Francois Steyn
Pen: Montgomery (3), James (2)
Drop: Butch James
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 32,210
Referee: Australia Matt Goddard (Australia)
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
FB 15Mils Muliaina
RW 14Rudi Wulf
OC 13Conrad Smith
IC 12Ma'a Nonu
LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu  40'
FH 10Dan Carter
SH 9 Andrew Ellis
N8 8 Jerome Kaino  53'
OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF 6 Adam Thomson
RL 5 Ali Williams  29'
LL 4 Anthony Boric
TP 3 John Afoa  70'
HK 2 Andrew Hore  56'
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16Keven Mealamu  56'
PR 17Neemia Tialata  70'
LK 18Kevin O'Neill  29'
N8 19Sione Lauaki  53'
SH 20Jimmy Cowan
FH 21Stephen Donald
FB 22Leon MacDonald  40'
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA:
FB 15Percy Montgomery  60'
RW 14JP Pietersen
OC 13Adrian Jacobs  47'
IC 12Jean de Villiers
LW 11Bryan Habana
FH 10Butch James  74'
SH 9 Ricky Januarie
N8 8 Joe van Niekerk  60'
OF 7 Juan Smith
BF 6 Schalk Burger
RL 5 Victor Matfield (c) 73' to 80'
LL 4 Bakkies Botha  50'  60'  67'
TP 3 CJ van der Linde
HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis  74'
LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp  53'  60'
Replacements:
HK 16Schalk Brits  74'
PR 17Brian Mujati  53'  60'
LK 18Andries Bekker  50'  60'  67'
FL 19Luke Watson  60'
SH 20Ruan Pienaar  74'
FH 21Francois Steyn  47'
FB 22Conrad Jantjes  60'
Coach:
South Africa Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
AustraliaPaul Marks
AustraliaJames Leckie
Television match official:
Australia George Ayoub


19 July 2008[11]
18:00 AWST (UTC+08)
Australia  16–9  South Africa
Tries: Tuqiri 36' m
Mortlock 46' m
Pen: Giteau 53'
Drop: Barnes 79'
Pen: Steyn (2) 5', 74'
James 55'
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 41,838
Referee: New Zealand Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

26 July 2008
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  34–19  New Zealand
Tries: Cross 10' c
Hynes 31' c
Elsom 55' c
Horwill 74' c
Con: Giteau (4)
Pen: Giteau 6'
Drop: Giteau 65'
Tries: Muliaina 24' m
Hore 39' c
Ellis 45' c
Con: Carter (2)
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 78,944
Referee: South Africa Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Australia
AUSTRALIA:
FB 15Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14Peter Hynes
OC 13Ryan Cross
IC 12Berrick Barnes
LW 11Lote Tuqiri
FH 10Matt Giteau
SH 9 Luke Burgess
N8 8 Wycliff Palu
OF 7 George Smith (c)
BF 6 Rocky Elsom
RL 5 Nathan Sharpe
LL 4 James Horwill
TP 3 Al Baxter
HK 2 Stephen Moore
LP 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR 17Matt Dunning
LK 18Daniel Vickerman
N8 19Phil Waugh
SH 20Sam Cordingley
FH 21Timana Tahu
FB 22Drew Mitchell
Coach:
New Zealand Robbie Deans
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
FB 15Mils Muliaina
RW 14Anthony Tuitavake
OC 13Richard Kahui
IC 12Ma'a Nonu
LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH 10Dan Carter
SH 9 Andrew Ellis
N8 8 Jerome Kaino
OF 7 Daniel Braid
BF 6 Rodney So'oialo (c)
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville
HK 2 Andrew Hore
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16Keven Mealamu
PR 17John Afoa
LK 18Anthony Boric
N8 19Sione Lauaki
SH 20Jimmy Cowan
FH 21Stephen Donald
FB 22Conrad Smith
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry

Touch judges:
South Africa Mark Lawrence
Fiji James Bolabiu
Television match official:
South Africa Shaun Veldsman


2 August 2008
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand  39–10  Australia
Tries: Woodcock (2) 21' c, 24' m
Nonu (2) 45' c, 80' m
Con: Carter (2)
Pen: Carter (5) 6', 14', 39', 58', 65'
Try: Ashley-Cooper 32' c
Con: Giteau
Pen: Giteau 4'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: South Africa Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
FB 15Mils Muliaina
RW 14Richard Kahui
OC 13Conrad Smith
IC 12Ma'a Nonu
LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH 10Dan Carter
SH 9 Jimmy Cowan
N8 8 Rodney So'oialo
OF 7 Richie McCaw(c)
BF 6 Jerome Kaino
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville
HK 2 Andrew Hore
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16Keven Mealamu
PR 17John Afoa
LK 18Anthony Boric
N8 19Adam Thomson
SH 20Piri Weepu
FH 21Stephen Donald
FB 22Anthony Tuitavake
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
Australia
AUSTRALIA:
FB 15Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14Peter Hynes
OC 13Stirling Mortlock(c)
IC 12Berrick Barnes
LW 11Lote Tuqiri
FH 10Matt Giteau
SH 9 Luke Burgess
N8 8 Wycliff Palu
OF 7 George Smith
BF 6 Phil Waugh
RL 5 Nathan Sharpe
LL 4 James Horwill
TP 3 Al Baxter
HK 2 Stephen Moore
LP 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR 17Matt Dunning
LK 18Daniel Vickerman
N8 19Hugh McMeniman
SH 20Sam Cordingley
FH 21Ryan Cross
FB 22Drew Mitchell
Coach:
New Zealand Robbie Deans

Touch judges:
South AfricaCraig Joubert
FijiJames Bolabiu
Television match official:
South Africa Shaun Veldsman


16 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  0–19  New Zealand
Tries: Smith m
Carter c
Mealamu c
Con: Carter (2)
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 52,000[12]
Referee: Australia Matt Goddard (Australia)

23 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  15–27  Australia
Tries: Jacobs (2)
Con: Montgomery
Pen: James
Tries: Robinson c
Tuqiri c
Mortlock c
Con: Giteau (3)
Pen: Giteau (2)
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 50,000[15]
Referee: New Zealand Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)

30 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  53–8  Australia
Tries: Bekker 8' c
Nokwe (4) 12' m, 25' m, 35' c, 49' m
Jacobs 44' c
Pienaar 68' c
Ndungane 78' c
Con: James (3)
Montgomery (2)
Pen: James 20'
Try: Mitchell 55' m
Pen: Giteau 5'
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 54,819
Referee: New Zealand Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

13 September 2008[16][17][18][19]
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  24–28  New Zealand
Tries: Ashley-Cooper 40' c
Horwill c
Cross c
Con: Giteau (3)
Pen: Giteau
Tries: Muliaina 13' c
Woodcock c
Weepu c
Carter c
Con: Carter (4)
Tri Nations
2008 Winners
New Zealand
New Zealand
Ninth Title

References

  1. "IRB World Rankings – 30 June 2008". irb.com. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  2. "All Blacks' home record 'does matter'". news.theage.com.au. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  3. Gilhooly, Daniel (3 July 2008). "Players determined to protect home record". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  4. Gilhooly, Daniel (23 June 2008). "McCaw will be missed". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  5. "Tri-Nations to trial law changes". bbc.co.uk. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  6. "Law changes trial gets go-ahead". bbc.co.uk. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  7. "Experimental laws make their mark in Super 14". International Herald Tribune. 6 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  8. Storey, Cameron (4 June 2008). "ELVs have improved the game". foxsports.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  9. "433rd All Black Test : 1154th All Black Game". allblacks.com. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  10. "434th All Black Test : 1155th All Black Game". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  11. "Live Scores". sarugby.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
  12. Rich, Gavin (17 August 2008). "Boks blacked out at Newlands". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  13. Sportal New Zealand (17 August 2008). "All Blacks shut Springboks out of game". New Zealand Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  14. "South Africa 0–19 New Zealand". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  15. Greenaway, Mike (24 August 2008). "Day of shame for bad Boks". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  16. "All Blacks retain Tri-Nations, Bledisloe". The Age. Australia. 13 September 2008. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  17. "BBC Sport". BBC. 14 September 2008. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  18. "All Blacks win Tri Nations". Stuff.co.nz. 14 September 2008. p. 1. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  19. "All Blacks win Tri-Nations". news24. 14 September 2008. p. 1. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  20. "Match Details: Qantas Wallabies vs. All Blacks". Australian Rugby Union. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.

External links

Preceded by
2007 Tri Nations
Rugby Union Tri Nations
2008
Succeeded by
2009 Tri Nations
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