Tri Nations Series champion is the title given to the rugby union nation (either Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or, since 2012, Argentina) that finishes at the top of competition table of the annual Tri Nations Series. The Bledisloe Cup, an Australian-New Zealand trophy is also awarded within the series.
Each nation plays each other thrice on a home and away basis, though the number of games against each side was expanded from two to three in 2006. A nation receives four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a loss. A nation can obtain a bonus point by either scoring four tries in a match or by losing by seven points or less to the opposition. If nations finish level on points (points for winning, drawing and bonus match points), the first tiebreaker is point differential (the actual in game scoreline, a cumulative scoreline difference). The scoreline difference is worked out by subtracting the number of points a nation has had scored against them from the total points they have scored in the series. Should teams still be level, this is followed by number of tries scored by a nation during the series.
The Tri Nations was created amongst the SANZAR partners (along with the provincial Super 12 competition, now, Super Rugby). The tournament involves three southern hemisphere nations; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series was created to form a similar competition to the Six Nations Championship (then, the Five Nations). The first tournament was held in 1996, which New Zealand won. It has subsequently been held annually. The competition has largely been dominated by New Zealand, who have won 10 championships, whereas Australia and South Africa have each won the series three times. New Zealand has won consecutive championships on three occasions (1996–97, 2002–03, and 2005–08) and Australia on one occasion (2000–01).
Results
Tournaments (1996–2011; 2020) YearDurationTablepositionNationGamesPointsBonuspointsTablepointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference19966 July –10 August1 New Zealand440011960+591172South Africa41037084−14263Australia410371116−4526199719 July –27 August1 New Zealand4400159109+502172South Africa4103148144+4373Australia410396150−5426199811 July –22 August1 South Africa44008054+261172Australia42027982−32103New Zealand40046588−2322199910 July –28 August1 New Zealand430110361+420122Australia42028457+272103South Africa410334103−6904200015 July –26 August1 Australia430110486+18 2142New Zealand4202127117+102103South Africa410382110−2826200121 July –1 September1 Australia42118175+61112New Zealand42027970+9193South Africa41125267−1506200213 July –17 August1 New Zealand43019765+323152Australia42029186+53113South Africa4103103140−3737200312 July –16 August1 New Zealand440014265+772182Australia410389106−17263South Africa410362122−6004200417 July –21 August1 South Africa420211098+123112Australia42027983−42103New Zealand42028391−819200530 July –3 September1 New Zealand430111186+253152South Africa43019382−111133Australia400472108−363320068 July –9 September1 New Zealand6501179112+673232Australia6204133121+123113South Africa6204106185−7919200716 June –21 July1 New Zealand430110059+411132Australia42027680-4193South Africa410366103-371520085 July –13 September1 New Zealand6402152106+463192Australia6303119163-442143South Africa6204115117-2210200918 July –19 September1 South Africa6501158130+281212New Zealand6303141131+101133Australia6105103141-4437201010 July –11 September1 New Zealand6600184111+733272Australia6204162188-263113South Africa6105147194-4737201123 July –27 August1 Australia43019279+131132New Zealand42029564+312103South Africa41035498-4415202031 October –5 December1 New Zealand420211854+643112Argentina41215684–28083Australia41216096–3608
Aggregate table
Notes
References "ALL-TIME TRI-NATIONS TABLE". iafrica.com. Retrieved 16 May 2006. "Tri-Nations history". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2006. "Fixtures & Results". scrum.com. Retrieved 16 May 2006.
External links Allblacks.com Rugby.com.au SA Rugby