2009 Tri Nations Series

The 2009 Tri Nations Series was the fourteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks. The Springboks secured the season crown in their final match on 12 September, defeating the defending series champion All Blacks 32–29 in Hamilton.

Background New Zealand, South Africa and Australia were ranked first, second, and third in the world respectively by the International Rugby Board (IRB) immediately before the start of the Tri Nations on 30 June 2009. For South Africa, the tournament comes on the back of the British & Irish Lions tour.

Tri-Nations 2009 On 18 July, the All Blacks drew first blood in the series, coming from behind to defeat the Wallabies 22–16 at Eden Park. The All Blacks then departed for a two-test series against the Springboks in South Africa. The Boks won the first test 28–19, a result that not only gave them the series lead but also put them ahead of the All Blacks for first place in the IRB World Rankings. The following week, they defeated the All Blacks again, with Morné Steyn scoring all of their points in a 31–19 win. Steyn's performance broke the previous mark of New Zealand's Andrew Mehrtens for individual points in a Tri Nations match. The Boks completed their home leg with a 29–17 win over the Wallabies in Cape Town, with Steyn scoring 24 of their points.

The series then travelled to Australia for the Wallabies' three home matches. It opened with the second Bledisloe Cup match with the All Blacks, won by the All Blacks 19–18. The Springboks then picked up a 32–25 bonus-point win over the Wallabies in Perth. The Wallabies then defeated the Springboks 21–6, at Brisbane. The Springboks had to wait another week to try grasp the Tri-Nations title, but had to face the All Blacks at home in Hamilton. The Boks claimed the Tri Nations crown for the first time since 2004 with a 32–29 win. In the final match of the series on 19 September, the All Blacks thumped the Wallabies 33–6 in Wellington.

The final match of the Bledisloe Cup series between Australia and New Zealand took place after the Tri-Nations, on 11 October (the first 3 matches of the series were part of the Tri-Nations).

Standings Place Nation Games Points Bonuspoints Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference1 6 5 0 1 158 130 +28 1 212 6 3 0 3 141 131 +10 1 133 6 1 0 5 103 141 −38 3 7

Fixtures

Round 1

FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Cory JaneOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Stephen DonaldSH 9 Jimmy Cowan N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome KainoRL 5 Isaac Ross LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Neemia Tialata HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Owen Franks LK 18Jason Eaton N8 19Kieran Read SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Luke McAlisterWG 22Joe RokocokoCoach: Graham Henry FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Lachlan TurnerOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c)IC 12Berrick Barnes LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Luke Burgess N8 8 Wycliff PaluOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Richard Brown RL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 James Horwill TP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 Stephen MooreLP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-NauPR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Dean Mumm N8 19Phil WaughFL 20David Pocock FH 21Will Genia FB 22James O'Connor Coach: Robbie Deans Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Cobus Wessels (South Africa) Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand) Notes: George Smith (Australia) won his 100th test cap, the 10th player to reach that milestone.

Round 2

FB 15François SteynRW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de Villiers LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Ruan Pienaar SH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c) HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai MtawariraReplacements:HK 16Chiliboy Ralepelle PR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Danie Rossouw N8 19Ryan KankowskiSH 20Ricky Januarie FH 21Morné Steyn FB 22Wynand Olivier Coach: Peter de Villiers FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Stephen DonaldSH 9 Brendon Leonard N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome KainoRL 5 Isaac Ross LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Neemia Tialata HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Owen Franks LK 18Jason Eaton N8 19Kieran Read SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Luke McAlister FB 22Cory JaneCoach: Graham Henry Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Tim Hayes (Wales) Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Round 3

FB 15François SteynRW 14JP Pietersen OC 13Jaque Fourie IC 12Jean de Villiers LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Morné SteynSH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Juan Smith OF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c) HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai MtawariraReplacements:HK 16Chiliboy Ralepelle PR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Andries Bekker N8 19Danie Rossouw SH 20Ricky Januarie FH 21Adrian Jacobs FB 22Wynand Olivier Coach: Peter de Villiers FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Stephen Donald SH 9 Jimmy Cowan N8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Isaac Ross LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17John Afoa LK 18Jason EatonN8 19Kieran Read SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Luke McAlister FB 22Cory JaneCoach: Graham Henry Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Tim Hayes (Wales) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Morné Steyn's 31 points set a new individual record for points in a Tri Nations match, breaking Andrew Mehrtens' previous mark of 29 for the All Blacks against Australia at Eden Park in 1999 as well as the most points scored by an individual in a game against the All Blacks. It is also an all-time Test record for most points by a player who was responsible for all of his team's scoring.

Round 4

FB 15François Steyn RW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de Villiers LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Morné SteynSH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Juan Smith OF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c)HK 2 Bismarck du PlessisLP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Chiliboy RalepellePR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Andries Bekker N8 19Danie Rossouw SH 20Ricky Januarie FH 21Ruan Pienaar FB 22Adrian Jacobs Coach: Peter de Villiers FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Lachlan TurnerOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12Berrick BarnesLW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt Giteau SH 9 Luke Burgess N8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Richard Brown RL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 James Horwill TP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Dean Mumm N8 19David Pocock SH 20Will Genia FH 21Peter HynesFB 22James O'Connor Coach: Robbie Deans Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Tim Hayes (Wales) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Round 5

FB 15James O'Connor RW 14Lachlan TurnerOC 13Adam Ashley-CooperIC 12Berrick Barnes LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Luke Burgess N8 8 Richard Brown OF 7 George Smith (c)BF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Dean Mumm N8 19David Pocock SH 20Will Genia FH 21Ryan Cross FB 22Peter Hynes Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Luke McAlister LW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Jimmy CowanN8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Isaac RossLL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Aled de MalmanchePR 17John Afoa LK 18Jason EatonN8 19Rodney So'oialo SH 20Brendon LeonardFH 21Stephen Donald CE 22Ma'a Nonu Coach: Graham Henry Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Cobus Wessels (South Africa) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Round 6

FB 15James O'Connor RW 14Lachlan TurnerOC 13Ryan Cross IC 12Adam Ashley-CooperLW 11Peter HynesFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Luke Burgess N8 8 Richard Brown OF 7 George Smith (c)BF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Ben AlexanderHK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Al BaxterLK 18Dean MummN8 19David Pocock SH 20Will Genia FH 21Quade Cooper FB 22Drew Mitchell Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15Ruan Pienaar RW 14JP Pietersen OC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Morné SteynSH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Juan Smith OF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c) HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai MtawariraReplacements:HK 16Chiliboy Ralepelle PR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Andries Bekker N8 19Schalk Burger SH 20Ricky Januarie FH 21Adrian Jacobs FB 22François Steyn Coach: Peter de Villiers Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Vinny Munro (New Zealand) Television match official: Keith Brown (New Zealand)

Round 7

FB 15James O'ConnorRW 14Lachlan Turner OC 13Adam Ashley-CooperIC 12Berrick Barnes LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 George Smith (c)OF 7 David PocockBF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17Pek Cowan LK 18Dean MummN8 19Wycliff PaluSH 20Luke BurgessFH 21Quade Cooper FB 22Peter Hynes Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15Ruan Pienaar RW 14Odwa NdunganeOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan Habana FH 10Morné SteynSH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Heinrich Brüssow RL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c)HK 2 Bismarck du PlessisLP 1 Tendai MtawariraReplacements:HK 16Chiliboy RalepellePR 17Jannie du PlessisLK 18Danie Rossouw N8 19Schalk Burger SH 20Ricky JanuarieFH 21Adrian Jacobs FB 22François Steyn Coach: Peter de Villiers Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Round 8

FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Ma'a NonuIC 12Stephen Donald LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Jimmy CowanN8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Isaac RossLL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Aled de MalmanchePR 17John Afoa FL 18Adam Thomson N8 19Rodney So'oialoSH 20Brendon LeonardCR 21Isaia Toeava FB 22Cory Jane Coach: Graham Henry FB 15François SteynRW 14Odwa NdunganeOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan Habana FH 10Morné SteynSH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Pierre SpiesBF 7 Schalk Burger OF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c)HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Chiliboy Ralepelle PR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Danie Rossouw N8 19Ryan Kankowski SH 20Ricky Januarie FH 21Adrian Jacobs FB 22Ruan PienaarCoach: Peter de Villiers Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (New Zealand) Notes: Morné Steyn became the highest individual point scorer in a Tri-Nations season with 95 points this season alone. Dan Carter's first penalty made him the leading point scorer in Tri Nations history, surpassing former All Black Andrew Mehrtens. Carter entered the match with 326 Tri Nations points to Mehrtens' 328, and ended the evening with 345.

Round 9