The 2005 Tri Nations Series, an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, was the tenth in the series. The competition is organised by SANZAR, a consortium of the three countries' rugby federations. This was the last year in which the Tri Nations was contested in its original double round-robin format, with each team playing the others twice.

New Zealand claimed the title with a 31–27 win over South Africa in the penultimate week of the competition; New Zealand's final opponents, Australia, were already unable to catch them and the result put New Zealand above South Africa with the Springboks having played all their matches. The All Blacks also retained the Bledisloe Cup with victory over Australia in both fixtures. The Mandela Challenge Plate between Australia and South Africa was contested outside the Tri Nations.

Synopsis

The All Blacks were clear favourites going in, having come off a sweep of the British & Irish Lions. The Springboks entered with many questions, most dealing with the player selections made by coach Jake White. Many in South Africa questioned White's selections after a loss to Australia in the first leg of the Mandela Plate. However, the Springboks won the second leg to retain the Mandela Plate. The Wallabies entered with promise, but had been hurt by the loss of talismanic fly-half Stephen Larkham to a shoulder injury before the series.

The series began with the South Africa leg. In the opener, the Springboks came from behind to defeat the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld. The 22–16 margin gave the Wallabies the consolation of a bonus point. The following week at Newlands, the Boks handed the All Blacks what would prove to be their only loss in 2005 by the identical score.

When the series moved to Australia, the All Blacks ensured themselves of retaining the Bledisloe Cup by a comprehensive 30–13 win over the Wallabies. However, they failed to earn a bonus point. The Springboks kept pace with the All Blacks by nipping Australia the following week 22–19.

The series decider proved to be the first match of the New Zealand leg, pitting the All Blacks and Springboks. In a closely fought match, a late try by Keven Mealamu gave the All Blacks both the win and a key bonus point. They would secure the trophy the next week with a bonus-point win over the Wallabies.

The aftermath

New Zealand The All Blacks emerged from the Tri Nations as clearly the best team in the world in 2005. They had enough depth to shrug off what would have been a devastating loss to most other national teams—an injury to arguably their best player, fly-half Dan Carter during the win in Sydney, that kept him out of the tests at home against the Springboks and the Wallabies. The All Blacks would punctuate their season with a "Grand Slam" over all four Home Nations on their November tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Carter would come back for the Grand Slam tour, and was selected as 2005 World Player of the Year by the International Rugby Board.

South Africa As for the Springboks, they showed themselves to be a close second to the All Blacks, silencing White's critics in the process. For the second straight year, the Tri Nations was the international coming-out party for a young Springboks star. In 2004, Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Marius Joubert emerged as major stars, with Burger going on to be named the IRB World Player of the Year. This year, Bryan Habana established himself as one of the world's most dangerous wings, and was named a finalist for World Player of the Year.

Australia The Wallabies fought bravely throughout the series, but were ultimately outmanned. The competition exposed major weaknesses in their front row. They would spiral downward to their longest Test losing streak since 1969, which would cost head coach Eddie Jones his job.

Format As in past competitions, points were earned on the following schedule:

4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 0 points for a loss 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more, win or lose 1 bonus point for a loss by 7 points or less

Table NationGamesPointsBonuspointsTablepointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference430111186+2531543019382+11113400472108−3633

Results

Round 1

FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Jacques CronjéBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Joe van NiekerkRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies BothaTP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Gurthrö SteenkampReplacements:HK 16Gary BothaPR 17Lawrence SephakaLK 18Albert van den BergFL 19Schalk BurgerSH 20Ricky JanuarieCE 21Wayne JuliesFB 22Jaco van der WesthuyzenCoach: Jake White FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Wendell SailorOC 13Morgan TurinuiIC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 David LyonsOF 7 George SmithBF 6 John RoeRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Daniel VickermanTP 3 Matt DunningHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Stephen MoorePR 17Al BaxterLK 18Mark ChisholmFL 19Phil WaughSH 20Chris WhitakerCE21Stirling MortlockFB 22Drew MitchellCoach: Eddie Jones

Round 2

FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Ricky JanuarieN8 8 Joe van NiekerkBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies BothaTP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:HK 16Hanyani ShimangePR 17Gurthrö SteenkampLK 18Albert van den BergN8 19Jacques CronjéSH 20Fourie du PreezCE 21Wayne JuliesFB 22Jaco van der WesthuyzenCoach: Jake White FB 15Leon MacDonaldRW 14Rico GearOC 13Tana Umaga (c)IC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Mils MuliainaFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Byron KelleherN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Keven MealamuLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Derren WitcombePR 17Greg SomervilleLK 18James RyanFL 19Marty HolahSH 20Piri WeepuFH 21Luke McAlisterWG 22Joe RokocokoCoach: Graham Henry

Round 3

FB 15Drew MitchellRW 14Mark GerrardOC 13Stirling MortlockIC 12Morgan TurinuiLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 David LyonsOF 7 George SmithBF 6 John RoeRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Daniel VickermanTP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Brendan CannonPR 17Matt DunningLK 18Mark ChisholmFL 19Phil WaughSH 20Chris WhitakerFH 21Elton FlatleyCE 22Clyde RathboneCoach: Eddie Jones FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Rico GearOC 13Tana Umaga (c)IC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Piri WeepuN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Keven MealamuLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Derren WitcombePR 17Greg SomervilleLK 18James RyanFL 19Marty HolahSH 20Kevin SenioFH 21Luke McAlisterFB 22Leon MacDonaldCoach: Graham Henry

Round 4

FB 15Drew MitchellRW 14Mat RogersOC 13Clyde RathboneIC 12Morgan TurinuiLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 David LyonsOF 7 Phil WaughBF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Daniel VickermanTP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Brendan CannonLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Stephen MoorePR 17Matt DunningLK 18Mark ChisholmN8 19John RoeFL 20George SmithSH 21Chris WhitakerWG 22Adam Ashley-CooperCoach: Eddie Jones FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Ricky JanuarieN8 8 Joe van NiekerkBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies BothaTP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:HK 16Hanyani ShimangePR 17Gurthrö SteenkampLK 18Albert van den BergN8 19Jacques CronjéSH 20Fourie du PreezCE 21Wayne JuliesFB 22Jaco van der WesthuyzenCoach: Jake White

Round 5

FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Rico GearOC 13Tana Umaga (c)IC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Leon MacDonaldSH 9 Piri WeepuN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Keven MealamuLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Derren WitcombePR 17Greg SomervilleLK 18James RyanFL 19Sione LauakiSH 20Kevin SenioFH 21Luke McAlisterFB 22Doug HowlettCoach: Graham Henry FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Jean de VilliersOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12De Wet BarryLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Ricky JanuarieN8 8 Joe van NiekerkBF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies BothaTP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:HK 16Hanyani ShimangePR 17Eddie AndrewsLK 18Albert van den BergN8 19Jacques CronjéSH 20Fourie du PreezFB 21Jaco van der WesthuyzenCE 22Marius JoubertCoach: Jake White

Round 6

FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Tana Umaga (c)IC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Leon MacDonaldSH 9 Piri WeepuN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw BF 6 Sione LauakiRL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Keven MealamuLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Derren WitcombePR 17Greg SomervilleLK 18James RyanFL 19Marty HolahSH 20Kevin SenioFH 21Luke McAlisterCE 22Conrad SmithCoach: Graham Henry FB 15Drew MitchellRW 14Mark GerrardOC 13Clyde RathboneIC 12Morgan TurinuiLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Mat RogersSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 George SmithOF 7 Phil WaughBF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Mark ChisholmTP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Brendan CannonLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Adam FreierPR 17Matt DunningLK 18Al KanaarN8 19John RoeSH 20Chris WhitakerFH 21Lachlan MacKayCE 22Lloyd JohanssonCoach: Eddie Jones

Statistical leaders Leading try scorers: Bryan Habana (SA), Doug Howlett (NZ), Joe Rokocoko (NZ) – 3 each Leading point scorer: Percy Montgomery (SA) – 52

References

External links Tri Nations at Rugby.com.au