2008 Tri Nations Series

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.

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).

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.

5 July 2008 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  69' FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Andy Ellis  74' N8 8 Jerome Kaino OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c) BF 6 Adam Thomson  61' RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Brad Thorn TP 3 Greg Somerville  74' HK 2 Andrew Hore  72' LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: HK 16 Keven Mealamu  72' PR 17 Neemia Tialata  74' LK 18 Anthony Boric N8 19 Sione Lauaki  61' SH 20 Jimmy Cowan  74' FH 21 Stephen Donald FB 22 Leon MacDonald  69' Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Conrad Jantjes  63' RW 14 Odwa Ndungane OC 13 Adrian Jacobs IC 12 Jean de Villiers LW 11 Bryan Habana FH 10 Butch James  58' SH 9 Ricky Januarie  72' N8 8 Joe van Niekerk  58' OF 7 Juan Smith BF 6 Schalk Burger RL 5 Victor Matfield LL 4 Bakkies Botha  72' TP 3 CJ van der Linde  46' HK 2 John Smit (c)  38' LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp Replacements: HK 16 Bismarck du Plessis  38' PR 17 Brian Mujati  46' LK 18 Andries Bekker  72' FL 19 Luke Watson  58' SH 20 Bolla Conradie  72' FH 21 François Steyn  58' FB 22 Percy Montgomery  63' Coach: Peter de Villiers

12 July 2008 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  40' FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Andy Ellis N8 8 Jerome Kaino  53' OF 7 Rodney So'oialo (c) BF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Ali Williams  29' LL 4 Anthony Boric TP 3 John Afoa  70' HK 2 Andrew Hore  56' LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements: HK 16 Keven Mealamu  56' PR 17 Neemia Tialata  70' LK 18 Kevin O'Neill  29' N8 19 Sione Lauaki  53' SH 20 Jimmy Cowan FH 21 Stephen Donald FB 22 Leon MacDonald  40' Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Percy Montgomery  60' RW 14 JP Pietersen OC 13 Adrian Jacobs  47' IC 12 Jean de Villiers LW 11 Bryan Habana FH 10 Butch James  74' SH 9 Ricky Januarie N8 8 Joe van Niekerk  60' OF 7 Juan Smith BF 6 Schalk Burger RL 5 Victor Matfield (c) 73' to 80' LL 4 Bakkies Botha  50'  60'  67' TP 3 CJ van der Linde HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis  74' LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp  53'  60' Replacements: HK 16 Schalk Brits  74' PR 17 Brian Mujati  53'  60' LK 18 Andries Bekker  50'  60'  67' FL 19 Luke Watson  60' SH 20 Ruan Pienaar  74' FH 21 François Steyn  47' FB 22 Conrad Jantjes  60' Coach: Peter de Villiers

• The Springboks get their first win over the All Blacks at Carisbrook, and their first win in New Zealand since 1998

19 July 2008 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: 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: Graham Henry

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: 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: Robbie Deans

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 Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)

• 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.

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 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 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 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

• All Blacks Tri Nations website
• "SA Rugby Competition – 2008 Vodacom Tri-Nations". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
• Wallabies Tri Nations website