2008 Tri Nations Series

Last updated

2008 Tri Nations Series
Date5 July – 13 September
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (9th title)
Bledisloe Cup Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Freedom Cup Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Mandela Challenge Plate Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played9
Tries scored43 (4.78 per match)
Attendance444,707 (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.

Contents

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 1 November (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

PlaceNationGamesPointsBonus
points		Table
points
PlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference
1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 6402152106+46319
2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 6303119163−44214
3Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 6204115117−2210

Results

Round 1

5 July 2008 [9]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg19–8Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Try: Kaino 45' c
Con: Carter (1/1) 46'
Pen: Carter (4/5) 5', 21', 29', 71'		Try: Habana 37' m
Pen: James (1/2) 6'
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 36,568
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
FB15 Mils Muliaina
RW14 Rudi Wulf
OC13 Conrad Smith
IC12 Ma'a Nonu
LW11 Sitiveni Sivivatu Sub off.svg 69'
FH10 Dan Carter
SH9 Andy Ellis Sub off.svg 74'
N88 Jerome Kaino
OF7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF6 Adam Thomson Sub off.svg 61'
RL5 Ali Williams
LL4 Brad Thorn
TP3 Greg Somerville Sub off.svg 74'
HK2 Andrew Hore Sub off.svg 72'
LP1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK16 Keven Mealamu Sub on.svg 72'
PR17 Neemia Tialata Sub on.svg 74'
LK18 Anthony Boric
N819 Sione Lauaki Sub on.svg 61'
SH20 Jimmy Cowan Sub on.svg 74'
FH21 Stephen Donald
FB22 Leon MacDonald Sub on.svg 69'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Henry
New Zealand vs South Africa 2008-07-05.svg
FB15 Conrad Jantjes Sub off.svg 63'
RW14 Odwa Ndungane
OC13 Adrian Jacobs
IC12 Jean de Villiers
LW11 Bryan Habana
FH10 Butch James Sub off.svg 58'
SH9 Ricky Januarie Sub off.svg 72'
N88 Joe van Niekerk Sub off.svg 58'
OF7 Juan Smith
BF6 Schalk Burger
RL5 Victor Matfield
LL4 Bakkies Botha Sub off.svg 72'
TP3 CJ van der Linde Sub off.svg 46'
HK2 John Smit (c)Sub off.svg 38'
LP1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK16 Bismarck du Plessis Sub on.svg 38'
PR17 Brian Mujati Sub on.svg 46'
LK18 Andries Bekker Sub on.svg 72'
FL19 Luke Watson Sub on.svg 58'
SH20 Bolla Conradie Sub on.svg 72'
FH21 François Steyn Sub on.svg 58'
FB22 Percy Montgomery Sub on.svg 63'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
Matt Goddard (Australia)
Paul Marks (Australia)
Television match official:
George Ayoub (Australia)

Round 2

12 July 2008 [10]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
(1 BP) New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg28–30Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Tries: Lauaki 56' c
Con: Carter (1/1) 57'
Pen: Carter (6/6) 5', 10', 17', 25', 40', 74'
Drop: Carter (1/1) 66'		Tries: Pietersen 32' m
Januarie 75' c
Con: Steyn (1/1) 76'
Pen: Montgomery (3/4) 13', 20', 23'
James (2/2) 63', 68'
Drop: James (1/1) 37'
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 32,210
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
FB15 Mils Muliaina
RW14 Rudi Wulf
OC13 Conrad Smith
IC12 Ma'a Nonu
LW11 Sitiveni Sivivatu Sub off.svg 40'
FH10 Dan Carter
SH9 Andy Ellis
N88 Jerome Kaino Sub off.svg 53'
OF7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF6 Adam Thomson
RL5 Ali Williams Sub off.svg 29'
LL4 Anthony Boric
TP3 John Afoa Sub off.svg 70'
HK2 Andrew Hore Sub off.svg 56'
LP1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK16 Keven Mealamu Sub on.svg 56'
PR17 Neemia Tialata Sub on.svg 70'
LK18 Kevin O'Neill Sub on.svg 29'
N819 Sione Lauaki Sub on.svg 53'
SH20 Jimmy Cowan
FH21 Stephen Donald
FB22 Leon MacDonald Sub on.svg 40'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Henry
New Zealand vs South Africa 2008-07-12.svg
FB15 Percy Montgomery Sub off.svg 60'
RW14 JP Pietersen
OC13 Adrian Jacobs Sub off.svg 47'
IC12 Jean de Villiers
LW11 Bryan Habana
FH10 Butch James Sub off.svg 74'
SH9 Ricky Januarie
N88 Joe van Niekerk Sub off.svg 60'
OF7 Juan Smith
BF6 Schalk Burger
RL5 Victor Matfield (c)Yellow card.svg 73' to 80'
LL4 Bakkies Botha Sub off.svg 50'Sub on.svg 60'Sub off.svg 67'
TP3 CJ van der Linde
HK2 Bismarck du Plessis Sub off.svg 74'
LP1 Gurthro Steenkamp Sub off.svg 53'Sub on.svg 60'
Replacements:
HK16 Schalk Brits Sub on.svg 74'
PR17 Brian Mujati Sub on.svg 53'Sub off.svg 60'
LK18 Andries Bekker Sub on.svg 50'Sub off.svg 60'Sub on.svg 67'
FL19 Luke Watson Sub on.svg 60'
SH20 Ruan Pienaar Sub on.svg 74'
FH21 François Steyn Sub on.svg 47'
FB22 Conrad Jantjes Sub on.svg 60'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
Paul Marks (Australia)
James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official:
George Ayoub (Australia)

  • The Springboks get their first win over the All Blacks at Carisbrook, and their first win in New Zealand since 1998

Round 3

19 July 2008 [11]
18:00 AWST (UTC+08)
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg16–9Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa (1 BP)
Tries: Tuqiri 36' m
Mortlock 46' m
Pen: Giteau (1/1) 53'
Drop: Barnes (1/1) 79'		Pen: Steyn (2/3) 5', 74'
James (1/1) 55'
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 41,838
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Round 4

26 July 2008
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
(1 BP) Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg34–19Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries: Cross 10' c
Hynes 31' c
Elsom 55' c
Horwill 74' c
Con: Giteau (4/4)
Pen: Giteau (1/1) 6'
Drop: Giteau (1/1) 65'		Tries: Muliaina 24' m
Hore 39' c
Ellis 45' c
Con: Carter (2/3)
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 78,944
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
FB15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW14 Peter Hynes
OC13 Ryan Cross
IC12 Berrick Barnes
LW11 Lote Tuqiri
FH10 Matt Giteau
SH9 Luke Burgess
N88 Wycliff Palu
OF7 George Smith (c)
BF6 Rocky Elsom
RL5 Nathan Sharpe
LL4 James Horwill
TP3 Al Baxter
HK2 Stephen Moore
LP1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR17 Matt Dunning
LK18 Daniel Vickerman
N819 Phil Waugh
SH20 Sam Cordingley
FH21 Timana Tahu
FB22 Drew Mitchell
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Robbie Deans
Australia vs New Zealand 2008-07-26.svg
FB15 Mils Muliaina
RW14 Anthony Tuitavake
OC13 Richard Kahui
IC12 Ma'a Nonu
LW11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH10 Dan Carter
SH9 Andy Ellis
N88 Jerome Kaino
OF7 Daniel Braid
BF6 Rodney So'oialo (c)
RL5 Ali Williams
LL4 Brad Thorn
TP3 Greg Somerville
HK2 Andrew Hore
LP1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK16 Keven Mealamu
PR17 John Afoa
LK18 Anthony Boric
N819 Sione Lauaki
SH20 Jimmy Cowan
FH21 Stephen Donald
FB22 Conrad Smith
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Henry

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

Round 5

2 August 2008
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
(1 BP) New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg39–10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries: Woodcock (2) 21' c, 24' m
Nonu (2) 45' c, 80' m
Con: Carter (2/4)
Pen: Carter (5/5) 6', 14', 39', 58', 65'		Try: Ashley-Cooper 32' c
Con: Giteau (1/1)
Pen: Giteau (1/1) 4'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
FB15 Mils Muliaina
RW14 Richard Kahui
OC13 Conrad Smith
IC12 Ma'a Nonu
LW11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH10 Dan Carter
SH9 Jimmy Cowan
N88 Rodney So'oialo
OF7 Richie McCaw(c)
BF6 Jerome Kaino
RL5 Ali Williams
LL4 Brad Thorn
TP3 Greg Somerville
HK2 Andrew Hore
LP1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK16 Keven Mealamu
PR17 John Afoa
LK18 Anthony Boric
N819 Adam Thomson
SH20 Piri Weepu
FH21 Stephen Donald
FB22 Anthony Tuitavake
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Henry
New Zealand vs Australia 2008-08-02.svg
FB15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW14 Peter Hynes
OC13 Stirling Mortlock(c)
IC12 Berrick Barnes
LW11 Lote Tuqiri
FH10 Matt Giteau
SH9 Luke Burgess
N88 Wycliff Palu
OF7 George Smith
BF6 Phil Waugh
RL5 Nathan Sharpe
LL4 James Horwill
TP3 Al Baxter
HK2 Stephen Moore
LP1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR17 Matt Dunning
LK18 Daniel Vickerman
N819 Hugh McMeniman
SH20 Sam Cordingley
FH21 Ryan Cross
FB22 Drew Mitchell
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Robbie Deans

Touch judges:
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Round 6

16 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg0–19Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries: Smith 7' m
Carter 66' c
Mealamu 72' c
Con: Carter (2/3)
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 52,000 [12]
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Round 7

23 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg15–27Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries: Jacobs (2) 65' c, 71' m
Con: Montgomery (1/2) 66'
Pen: James (1/1) 44'		Tries: Robinson 27' c
Tuqiri 61' c
Mortlock 67' c
Con: Giteau (3/3) 28', 62', 68'
Pen: Giteau (2/3) 9', 50'
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 50,000 [15]
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)

Round 8

30 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
(1 BP) South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg53–8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  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 (3/6)
Montgomery (2/2)
Pen: James (1/1) 31'		Try: Mitchell 55' m
Pen: Giteau (1/1) 5'
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 54,819
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Round 9

13 September 2008 [16] [17] [18] [19]
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
(1 BP) Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg24–28Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (1 BP)
Tries: Ashley-Cooper 40' c
Horwill 45' c
Cross 78' c
Con: Giteau (3/3) 40+1', 46', 79'
Pen: Giteau (1/2) 22'		Tries: Muliaina 13' c
Woodcock 49' c
Weepu 62' c
Carter 67' c
Con: Carter (4/4) 14', 50', 63', 68'
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,328 [20]
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

References

  1. ↑ "IRB World Rankings – 30 June 2008". irb.com. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  2. ↑ "All Blacks' home record 'does matter'". news.theage.com.au. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. 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. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
  6. ↑ "Law changes trial gets go-ahead". BBC. 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. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. 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. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. 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.
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