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.
The All Blacks went into the series with a world record 29 successive home victories, and South Africa with a 13 match winning streak.
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. A global trial of 13 ELVs at all levels is to be conducted for one year from 1 August 2008. 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. The changes increased the attacking opportunities from scrums.
Standings Place Nation Games Points Bonuspoints Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference16402152106+4631926303119163−4421436204115117−2210
Results Round 1
FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Rudi WulfOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Andy Ellis N8 8 Jerome KainoOF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)BF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Greg Somerville HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Neemia Tialata LK 18Anthony BoricN8 19Sione Lauaki SH 20Jimmy Cowan FH 21Stephen DonaldFB 22Leon MacDonald Coach: Graham Henry FB 15Conrad Jantjes RW 14Odwa NdunganeOC 13Adrian JacobsIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch James SH 9 Ricky Januarie N8 8 Joe van Niekerk OF 7 Juan SmithBF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 CJ van der Linde HK 2 John Smit (c) LP 1 Gurthro SteenkampReplacements:HK 16Bismarck du Plessis PR 17Brian Mujati LK 18Andries Bekker FL 19Luke Watson SH 20Bolla Conradie FH 21François Steyn FB 22Percy Montgomery Coach: Peter de Villiers Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia) Paul Marks (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Round 2
FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Rudi WulfOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Andy EllisN8 8 Jerome Kaino OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)BF 6 Adam ThomsonRL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Anthony BoricTP 3 John Afoa HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Neemia Tialata LK 18Kevin O'Neill N8 19Sione Lauaki SH 20Jimmy CowanFH 21Stephen DonaldFB 22Leon MacDonald Coach: Graham Henry FB 15Percy Montgomery RW 14JP PietersenOC 13Adrian Jacobs IC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch James SH 9 Ricky JanuarieN8 8 Joe van Niekerk OF 7 Juan SmithBF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor Matfield (c) LL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp Replacements:HK 16Schalk Brits PR 17Brian Mujati LK 18Andries Bekker FL 19Luke Watson SH 20Ruan Pienaar FH 21François Steyn FB 22Conrad Jantjes Coach: 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
Round 4
FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Peter HynesOC 13Ryan CrossIC 12Berrick BarnesLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Luke BurgessN8 8 Wycliff PaluOF 7 George Smith (c)BF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Stephen MooreLP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-NauPR 17Matt DunningLK 18Daniel VickermanN8 19Phil WaughSH 20Sam CordingleyFH 21Timana TahuFB 22Drew MitchellCoach: Robbie Deans FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Anthony TuitavakeOC 13Richard KahuiIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Andy EllisN8 8 Jerome KainoOF 7 Daniel BraidBF 6 Rodney So'oialo (c)RL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven MealamuPR 17John AfoaLK 18Anthony BoricN8 19Sione LauakiSH 20Jimmy CowanFH 21Stephen DonaldFB 22Conrad SmithCoach: Graham Henry Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) James Bolabiu (Fiji) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Round 5
FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Richard KahuiOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Jimmy CowanN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw(c)BF 6 Jerome KainoRL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven MealamuPR 17John AfoaLK 18Anthony BoricN8 19Adam ThomsonSH 20Piri WeepuFH 21Stephen DonaldFB 22Anthony TuitavakeCoach: Graham Henry FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Peter HynesOC 13Stirling Mortlock(c)IC 12Berrick BarnesLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Luke BurgessN8 8 Wycliff PaluOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Phil WaughRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Stephen MooreLP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-NauPR 17Matt DunningLK 18Daniel VickermanN8 19Hugh McMenimanSH 20Sam CordingleyFH 21Ryan CrossFB 22Drew MitchellCoach: Robbie Deans Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) James Bolabiu (Fiji) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Round 6
This match saw two players reach major milestones: Dan Carter became the ninth player in history with 800 Test points. Percy Montgomery became the ninth player in history to earn his 100th Test cap.
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
References
External links All Blacks Tri Nations website
Wallabies Tri Nations website