2008 Tri Nations Series

2008 Tri Nations Series
Date5 July – 13 September
Final positions
Champions New Zealand (9th title)
Bledisloe Cup New Zealand
Freedom Cup New Zealand
Mandela Challenge Plate Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played9
Tries scored43 (4.78 per match)
Attendance444,707 (49,412 per match)
Top scorer(s)Dan Carter (82)
Most triesJongi 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.

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

See also: 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

Place Nation Games Points Bonus
points 		Table
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1  New Zealand 6 4 0 2 152 106 +46 3 19
2  Australia 6 3 0 3 119 163 −44 2 14
3  South Africa 6 2 0 4 115 117 −2 2 10

Fixtures

5 July 2008[9]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
New Zealand 19–8 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)
FB 15 Mils Muliaina
RW 14 Rudi Wulf
OC 13 Conrad Smith
IC 12 Ma'a Nonu
LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu downward-facing red arrow 69'
FH 10 Dan Carter
SH 9 Andy Ellis downward-facing red arrow 74'
N8 8 Jerome Kaino
OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF 6 Adam Thomson downward-facing red arrow 61'
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville downward-facing red arrow 74'
HK 2 Andrew Hore downward-facing red arrow 72'
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16 Keven Mealamu upward-facing green arrow 72'
PR 17 Neemia Tialata upward-facing green arrow 74'
LK 18 Anthony Boric
N8 19 Sione Lauaki upward-facing green arrow 61'
SH 20 Jimmy Cowan upward-facing green arrow 74'
FH 21 Stephen Donald
FB 22 Leon MacDonald upward-facing green arrow 69'
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
FB 15 Conrad Jantjes downward-facing red arrow 63'
RW 14 Odwa Ndungane
OC 13 Adrian Jacobs
IC 12 Jean de Villiers
LW 11 Bryan Habana
FH 10 Butch James downward-facing red arrow 58'
SH 9 Ricky Januarie downward-facing red arrow 72'
N8 8 Joe van Niekerk downward-facing red arrow 58'
OF 7 Juan Smith
BF 6 Schalk Burger
RL 5 Victor Matfield
LL 4 Bakkies Botha downward-facing red arrow 72'
TP 3 CJ van der Linde downward-facing red arrow 46'
HK 2 John Smit (c) downward-facing red arrow 38'
LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK 16 Bismarck du Plessis upward-facing green arrow 38'
PR 17 Brian Mujati upward-facing green arrow 46'
LK 18 Andries Bekker upward-facing green arrow 72'
FL 19 Luke Watson upward-facing green arrow 58'
SH 20 Bolla Conradie upward-facing green arrow 72'
FH 21 François Steyn upward-facing green arrow 58'
FB 22 Percy Montgomery upward-facing green arrow 63'
Coach:
South Africa Peter de Villiers

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

12 July 2008[10]
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
(1 BP) New Zealand 28–30 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)
FB 15 Mils Muliaina
RW 14 Rudi Wulf
OC 13 Conrad Smith
IC 12 Ma'a Nonu
LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu downward-facing red arrow 40'
FH 10 Dan Carter
SH 9 Andy Ellis
N8 8 Jerome Kaino downward-facing red arrow 53'
OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c)
BF 6 Adam Thomson
RL 5 Ali Williams downward-facing red arrow 29'
LL 4 Anthony Boric
TP 3 John Afoa downward-facing red arrow 70'
HK 2 Andrew Hore downward-facing red arrow 56'
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16 Keven Mealamu upward-facing green arrow 56'
PR 17 Neemia Tialata upward-facing green arrow 70'
LK 18 Kevin O'Neill upward-facing green arrow 29'
N8 19 Sione Lauaki upward-facing green arrow 53'
SH 20 Jimmy Cowan
FH 21 Stephen Donald
FB 22 Leon MacDonald upward-facing green arrow 40'
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
FB 15 Percy Montgomery downward-facing red arrow 60'
RW 14 JP Pietersen
OC 13 Adrian Jacobs downward-facing red arrow 47'
IC 12 Jean de Villiers
LW 11 Bryan Habana
FH 10 Butch James downward-facing red arrow 74'
SH 9 Ricky Januarie
N8 8 Joe van Niekerk downward-facing red arrow 60'
OF 7 Juan Smith
BF 6 Schalk Burger
RL 5 Victor Matfield (c) yellow card 73' to 80'
LL 4 Bakkies Botha downward-facing red arrow 50' upward-facing green arrow 60' downward-facing red arrow 67'
TP 3 CJ van der Linde
HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis downward-facing red arrow 74'
LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp downward-facing red arrow 53' upward-facing green arrow 60'
Replacements:
HK 16 Schalk Brits upward-facing green arrow 74'
PR 17 Brian Mujati upward-facing green arrow 53' downward-facing red arrow 60'
LK 18 Andries Bekker upward-facing green arrow 50' downward-facing red arrow 60' upward-facing green arrow 67'
FL 19 Luke Watson upward-facing green arrow 60'
SH 20 Ruan Pienaar upward-facing green arrow 74'
FH 21 François Steyn upward-facing green arrow 47'
FB 22 Conrad Jantjes upward-facing green arrow 60'
Coach:
South Africa 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
19 July 2008[11]
18:00 AWST (UTC+08)
Australia 16–9 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)
26 July 2008
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
(1 BP) Australia 34–19 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)
FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14 Peter Hynes
OC 13 Ryan Cross
IC 12 Berrick Barnes
LW 11 Lote Tuqiri
FH 10 Matt Giteau
SH 9 Luke Burgess
N8 8 Wycliff Palu
OF 7 George Smith (c)
BF 6 Rocky Elsom
RL 5 Nathan Sharpe
LL 4 James Horwill
TP 3 Al Baxter
HK 2 Stephen Moore
LP 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR 17 Matt Dunning
LK 18 Daniel Vickerman
N8 19 Phil Waugh
SH 20 Sam Cordingley
FH 21 Timana Tahu
FB 22 Drew Mitchell
Coach:
New Zealand Robbie Deans
FB 15 Mils Muliaina
RW 14 Anthony Tuitavake
OC 13 Richard Kahui
IC 12 Ma'a Nonu
LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH 10 Dan Carter
SH 9 Andy Ellis
N8 8 Jerome Kaino
OF 7 Daniel Braid
BF 6 Rodney So'oialo (c)
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville
HK 2 Andrew Hore
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16 Keven Mealamu
PR 17 John Afoa
LK 18 Anthony Boric
N8 19 Sione Lauaki
SH 20 Jimmy Cowan
FH 21 Stephen Donald
FB 22 Conrad Smith
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry

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

2 August 2008
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
(1 BP) New Zealand 39–10 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)
FB 15 Mils Muliaina
RW 14 Richard Kahui
OC 13 Conrad Smith
IC 12 Ma'a Nonu
LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
FH 10 Dan Carter
SH 9 Jimmy Cowan
N8 8 Rodney So'oialo
OF 7 Richie McCaw(c)
BF 6 Jerome Kaino
RL 5 Ali Williams
LL 4 Brad Thorn
TP 3 Greg Somerville
HK 2 Andrew Hore
LP 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK 16 Keven Mealamu
PR 17 John Afoa
LK 18 Anthony Boric
N8 19 Adam Thomson
SH 20 Piri Weepu
FH 21 Stephen Donald
FB 22 Anthony Tuitavake
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14 Peter Hynes
OC 13 Stirling Mortlock(c)
IC 12 Berrick Barnes
LW 11 Lote Tuqiri
FH 10 Matt Giteau
SH 9 Luke Burgess
N8 8 Wycliff Palu
OF 7 George Smith
BF 6 Phil Waugh
RL 5 Nathan Sharpe
LL 4 James Horwill
TP 3 Al Baxter
HK 2 Stephen Moore
LP 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
PR 17 Matt Dunning
LK 18 Daniel Vickerman
N8 19 Hugh McMeniman
SH 20 Sam Cordingley
FH 21 Ryan Cross
FB 22 Drew Mitchell
Coach:
New Zealand Robbie Deans

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

16 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa 0–19 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)
23 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa 15–27 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)
30 August 2008
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
(1 BP) South Africa 53–8 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)
13 September 2008[16][17][18][19]
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
(1 BP) Australia 24–28 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.