2008 Tri Nations 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.

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).

Experimental Law Variations

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.

Standings

Results

Round 1

Con: Carter (1/1) 46' Pen: Carter (4/5) 5', 21', 29', 71' Pen: James (1/2) 6'

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Round 2

Con: Carter (1/1) 57' Pen: Carter (6/6) 5', 10', 17', 25', 40', 74' Drop: Carter (1/1) 66' 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'

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

Round 3

Mortlock 46' m Pen: Giteau (1/1) 53' Drop: Barnes (1/1) 79' James (1/1) 55'

Round 4

Hynes 31' c Elsom 55' c Horwill 74' c Con: Giteau (4/4) Pen: Giteau (1/1) 6' Drop: Giteau (1/1) 65' Hore 39' c Ellis 45' c Con: Carter (2/3)

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Round 5

Nonu (2) 45' c, 80' m Con: Carter (2/4) Pen: Carter (5/5) 6', 14', 39', 58', 65' Con: Giteau (1/1) Pen: Giteau (1/1) 4'

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Round 6

Carter 66' c Mealamu 72' c Con: Carter (2/3)

• 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.

Round 7

Con: Montgomery (1/2) 66' Pen: James (1/1) 44' Tuqiri 61' c Mortlock 67' c Con: Giteau (3/3) 28', 62', 68' Pen: Giteau (2/3) 9', 50'

Round 8

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' Pen: Giteau (1/1) 5'

Round 9

Horwill 45' c Cross 78' c Con: Giteau (3/3) 40+1', 46', 79' Pen: Giteau (1/2) 22' Woodcock 49' c Weepu 62' c Carter 67' c Con: Carter (4/4) 14', 50', 63', 68'

References

References

1. (30 June 2008). "IRB World Rankings – 30 June 2008". irb.com.
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3. Gilhooly, Daniel. (3 July 2008). "Players determined to protect home record". nzherald.co.nz.
4. Gilhooly, Daniel. (23 June 2008). "McCaw will be missed". stuff.co.nz.
5. (2 June 2008). "Tri-Nations to trial law changes". BBC.
6. (1 May 2008). "Law changes trial gets go-ahead". BBC.
7. (6 July 2008). "Experimental laws make their mark in Super 14". International Herald Tribune.
8. Storey, Cameron. (4 June 2008). "ELVs have improved the game". foxsports.com.au.
9. "433rd All Black Test : 1154th All Black Game".
10. "434th All Black Test : 1155th All Black Game".
11. "Live Scores". sarugby.com.
12. Rich, Gavin. (17 August 2008). "Boks blacked out at Newlands". South African Rugby Union.
13. Sportal New Zealand. (17 August 2008). "All Blacks shut Springboks out of game". New Zealand Rugby Union.
14. (16 August 2008). "South Africa 0–19 New Zealand". BBC Sport.
15. Greenaway, Mike. (24 August 2008). "Day of shame for bad Boks". [[Sunday Independent (South Africa).
16. (13 September 2008). "All Blacks retain Tri-Nations, Bledisloe". The Age.
17. (14 September 2008). "BBC Sport". BBC.
18. (14 September 2008). "All Blacks win Tri Nations". Stuff.co.nz.
19. (14 September 2008). "All Blacks win Tri-Nations". news24.
20. (13 September 2008). "Match Details: Qantas Wallabies vs. All Blacks". Australian Rugby Union.