Rugby Union Tri Nations
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The Tri Nations is an annual international rugby union series held between Australia's Wallabies, New Zealand's All Blacks and South Africa's Springboks. The series is played on a home-and-away basis. Originally the three nations played each other twice but that was changed to three times, beginning in 2006. The competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the rugby governing bodies of Australia's ARU, New Zealand's NZRFU and South Africa's SARU.
The first tournament was contested in 1996 and was won by the All Blacks. Since the inception of the Tri Nations series the games played between Australia and New Zealand also determine the winner of the Bledisloe Cup each year.
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[edit] History
[edit] Beginnings
Australia and New Zealand first played each other in 1903. South Africa toured both nations in 1921 but there was never any formal competition in place, unlike the Home Nations (now known as the Six Nations Championship) in the northern hemisphere. For years the southern nations longed for a competition like the Home Nations.[1] The three nations met sporadically with Australia and New Zealand meeting regularly to contest the Bledisloe Cup. The birth of the Rugby World Cup in 1987 was a step closer to the modern-day Tri Nations Series—due to apartheid South Africa would not compete in the World Cup until 1995.
[edit] Professionalism
The final acceptance of professionalism launched the Tri Nations concept.[1] Nearing the completion of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, multi-million pound negociations between the South African, New Zealand and Australian unions took place to form SANZAR. The new union soon announced a ten-year deal worth £360 million. The competition was established to create an equivilant to the Five Nations in Europe.[2] The opening tournament of 1996 was dominated by the All Blacks who stormed to victory undefeated, leaving the Springboks and the Wallabies with just one win each—against each other. The opening exchange was between New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand winning by over 40 points and, although they won all four of their games, the later matches were a lot closer in their scorelines. The launch of the Tri Nations was considered a huge success.[1]
A similar story unfolded the following year. The All Blacks maintained their dominance over the new competition and again went undefeated. Australia and South Africa found themselves in similar position again with just one win each. The 1998 series was something of a turnaround for all nations with South Africa winning the tournament and Australia finishing second. Two-time winner New Zealand finished at the bottom with no wins. In the following tournament New Zealand again became Tri Nations champions and defending champions South Africa fell to the bottom.
[edit] To the present
Australia, the World Champions at the time, won their first Tri Nations championship in 2000. That tournament is also notable for Australia’s opening match against New Zealand at Stadium Australia where 109,874 spectators attended.[3] Jonah Lomu scored a try in injury time to grab the win for the All Blacks. The game was hailed as one of the greatest ever, [3] and the end competition thought by some to be the best Tri Nations ever at the time.[4]
Australia continued their reign as Tri Nations champions by successfully defending the trophy the following year. Their run ended in 2002 when the All Blacks won the championship again. New Zealand successfully defended it in 2003 as well. South Africa won the 2004 tournament where the three nations finished with two wins each. The Springboks emerged as winners due to their superior table points. The trophy returned to New Zealand in 2005 and the Wallabies failed to win a game. In 2006 New Zealand retained the trophy with 2 games still to be played.
[edit] Expansion
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This section documents a current sports-related event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
The competition was expanded in 2006 and sees each of the three nations play each other three times, although the 2007 series will revert to a double round-robin to reduce fixture congestion in a World Cup year. The expanded format has, thus far, been met with mixed reactions from fans. Historically there have been persistent rumours about the inclusion of Argentina[5] into this competition but no official word has ever been released. As well as Argentina, there have also been rumors about a Pacific Islands team being inclued too. International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Syd Millar said in 2003 that Argentina should be joining an expanded Tri Nations once the television rights expired in 2005.[6]
However, with the 2006 expansion of the tournament, to three games in the round-robin, no new nations were invited to compete. Some fans were disappointed, saying that the three big rugby countries really should be helping the rugby-playing Pacific Islands and South America (Argentina) to upgrade their skills and to improve their finances and public exposure.[7] Some of the disappointed fans claim that the decision to exclude Argentina's Los Pumas or a composite Pacific Islands team, or both, came down to money as there would be less financial advantage compared with simply expanding the number of Tri Nations' teams. As of late 2006, it appeared that Argentina would likely have to wait until at least 2011 to join the Tri Nations.[8]
Argentina is the only top nation that has no regular competition, and some, among them current Pumas captain Agustín Pichot,[9] have even spoke of them joining the Six Nations. However an ambassador said "We belong in a tournament in the southern hemisphere and not in an expanded Six Nations". The inclusion of Argentina does have some support from some bodies, SARU deputy chief executive saying "We would support (their) request to play in the Tri-Nations,”. Springbok coach Jake White also said that "I think it would add a new dimension to the tournament and perhaps refresh it."
In a newer development, The Sunday Times reported in February 2007 that the International Rugby Board (IRB), the world governing body for the sport, has been brokering a deal with SANZAR to admit Argentina to the Tri Nations as early as 2008.[10] The Sunday Times reported that many players and fans in the SANZAR countries disliked the expansion to a triple round-robin, noting that former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall accused SANZAR of overkill in 2006. Also, the piece added that South Africa is highly dissatisfied with the current Tri Nations format, as it requires that the Boks tour for a month while the Wallabies and All Blacks fly in and out of South Africa in a week. The addition of Argentina would even out travel commitments for all teams involved. The Sunday Times noted that there are two main stumbling blocks to adding Argentina:
- Division of broadcast revenue, which is currently shared equally by the three SANZAR countries.
- The biggest stumbling block may be the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR). The Times noted that some UAR members are "deeply attached to amateurism", adding that the IRB had a blueprint on the table for a South American provincial competition similar to SANZAR's Super 14, featuring six Argentine provincial sides and one each from Uruguay and Chile, but UAR had yet to approve it.
[edit] The competition
The order of fixtures has changed several times in the history of the series. In the past each team played the others twice. After some tweaking of the schedule it was decided to start the series with two fixtures in either South Africa or New Zealand and move the series to the country that did not host the opening rounds. Under this setup Australia's home fixtures were always the middle two in the series.
The recent reworking of the calendar took effect with the 2006 event. This was the result of a new television deal between SANZAR and broadcasters in the United Kingdom and the SANZAR countries. Each team plays the other three times. In 2006 the series opened in New Zealand and the first four rounds alternated between New Zealand and Australia. The fifth round was in Australia. After a one-week break the series returned to New Zealand and then finished with South Africa's three home fixtures. Each team has two home fixtures against one team and only one home fixture against the other.
The competition begins in July. Originally it had started late in July but, with the expansion of the series, the start date has moved to early in the month. It typically ends early in September. The Tri Nations opens after the completion of the Super 14 competition for the year because players from the SANZAR countries are involved in both.
The winner is determined by a points system:
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
"Bonus points" may also be earned in any given match and count toward deciding the series winner. A team may earn one bonus point in each of the following ways (to a total of two points):
- By scoring four or more tries in the match, regardless of the final result of the match.
- By losing by seven points (a converted try) or fewer.
A victorious team can collect either 4 or 5 points, depending on whether or not it scored 4 tries. A losing team may collect from 0 to 2 points. At the end of the series the team with the most points is declared the winner. If teams end level on points the first tiebreaker is point differential, followed by number of tries during the series. However, the Tri Nations has yet to finish in a tie for the top spot.
[edit] Results
| Year | Winner | Games played |
Games won |
Games drawn |
Games lost |
Points for |
Points against |
Points difference |
Bonus points |
Table points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 |  New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 60 | (+) 59 | 1 | 17 |
| 1997 | New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 159 | 109 | (+) 50 | 2 | 18 |
| 1998 |  South Africa |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 54 | (+) 26 | 1 | 17 |
| 1999 | New Zealand |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 103 | 61 | (+) 42 | 0 | 12 |
| 2000 |  Australia |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 86 | (+) 18 | 2 | 14 |
| 2001 | Australia |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 81 | 75 | (+) 6 | 1 | 11 |
| 2002 | New Zealand |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 97 | 65 | (+) 32 | 3 | 15 |
| 2003 | New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 65 | (+) 77 | 2 | 18 |
| 2004 | South Africa |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 110 | 98 | (+) 12 | 3 | 11 |
| 2005 | New Zealand |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 86 | (+) 25 | 3 | 15 |
| 2006 | New Zealand |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 112 | (+) 67 | 3 | 23 |
[edit] All time table
| Nation | Games | Points | Bonus points |
Table points |
Championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | ||||
| New Zealand |
46 | 32 | 0 | 14 | 1264 | 924 | +340 | 22 | 150 | 7 |
| Australia |
46 | 18 | 1 | 27 | 979 | 1060 | -91 | 24 | 98 | 2 |
| South Africa |
46 | 18 | 1 | 27 | 940 | 1189 | -249 | 16 | 90 | 2 |
Updated 11 September 2006
[edit] Records and statistics
[edit] Try scorers
This lists try scorers up to and including the final match of the 2006 Tri Nations Series.
Sixteen: Christian Cullen (NZ)
Thirteen: Doug Howlett (NZ)
Twelve: Joe Rokocoko (NZ)
Nine: Justin Marshall (NZ)
Eight: Joe Roff (Aus)
Seven: Matt Burke (Aus), Chris Latham (Aus), Stirling Mortlock (Aus), Lote Tuqiri (Aus)
Six: Stephen Larkham (Aus), Ben Tune (Aus), Marius Joubert (SA), Breyton Paulse (SA)
Five: Mat Rogers (Aus), Richie McCaw (NZ), Tana Umaga (NZ), Jeff Wilson (NZ)
Four: George Gregan (Aus), Frank Bunce (NZ), Jonah Lomu (NZ), Jean de Villiers (SA), Fourie du Preez (SA), Jaque Fourie (SA), Bryan Habana (SA), Percy Montgomery (SA), Bob Skinstad (SA), Joost van der Westhuizen (SA)
Three: Jason Little (Aus), Jeremy Paul (Aus), George Smith (Aus), Pita Alatini (NZ), Aaron Mauger (NZ), Keven Mealamu (NZ), Taine Randell (NZ), Carlos Spencer (NZ), Mark Andrews (SA), Robbie Fleck (SA), Pieter Rossouw (SA), Brent Russell (SA)
Two: Mark Chisholm (Aus), Mark Gerrard (Aus), Matt Giteau (Aus), Tim Horan (Aus), Toutai Kefu (Aus), Clyde Rathbone (Aus), Wendell Sailor (Aus), Phil Waugh (Aus), Daniel Carter (NZ), Rico Gear (NZ), Penalty tries (NZ), Leon MacDonald (NZ), Luke McAlister (NZ), Mils Muliaina (NZ), Piri Weepu (NZ), James Dalton (SA), Jannie de Beer (SA), Os du Randt (SA), Werner Greeff (SA), Victor Matfield (SA), Werner Swanepoel (SA), Joe van Niekerk (SA)
One: Penalty try (Aus), Tom Bowman (Aus), Brendan Cannon (Aus), Mark Connors (Aus), Rocky Elsom (Aus), Scott Fava (Aus), Nathan Grey (Aus), Dan Herbert (Aus), Greg Holmes (Aus), Lloyd Johansson (Aus), David Knox (Aus), Daniel Manu (Aus), Drew Mitchell (Aus), Nathan Sharpe (Aus), Zinzan Brooke (NZ), Craig Dowd (NZ), Jason Eaton (NZ), Mark Hammett (NZ), Alama Ieremia (NZ), Chris Jack (NZ), Ian Jones (NZ), Michael Jones (NZ), Josh Kronfeld (NZ), Kees Meeuws (NZ), Andrew Mehrtens (NZ), Glen Osborne (NZ), Scott Robertson (NZ), Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ), Reuben Thorne (NZ), Neemia Tialata (NZ), Isaia Toeava (NZ), Richard Bands (SA), Russell Bennett (SA), Warren Brosnihan (SA), Jacques Cronjé (SA), Neil de Kock (SA), Thinus Delport (SA), Naka Drotske (SA), Gaffie du Toit (SA), Johan Erasmus (SA), Adrian Garvey (SA), Pieter Hendriks (SA), Enrico Januarie (SA), Andre Joubert (SA), Ruben Kruger (SA), Japie Mulder (SA), André Pretorius (SA), Andre Snyman (SA), Joel Stransky (SA), Gary Teichmann (SA), Stefan Terblanche (SA), Jaco van der Westhuyzen (SA), Pedrie Wannenburg (SA), Ashwin Willemse (SA), Chester Williams (SA)
[edit] Top point scorers
This lists the top ten point scorers up to and including the final match of the 2006 Tri Nations Series.
- Andrew Mehrtens (NZ) - 328 (1 try, 34 conv, 82 pen, 3 drop)
- Matt Burke (Aus) - 271 (7 tries, 19 conv, 65 pen, 1 drop)
- Percy Montgomery (SA) - 176 (4 tries, 21 conv, 35 pen, 3 drop)
- Daniel Carter (NZ) - 168 (2 tries, 19 conv, 39 pen, 1 drop)
- Carlos Spencer (NZ) - 153 (3 tries, 21 conv, 32 pen)
- Stirling Mortlock (Aus) - 149 (7 tries, 18 conv, 26 pen)
- Braam van Straaten (SA) - 94 (5 conv, 28 pen)
- Christian Cullen (NZ) - 80 (16 tries)
- Jannie de Beer (SA) - 69 (2 tries, 13 conv, 9 pen, 2 drop)
- Doug Howlett (NZ) - 65 (13 tries), Andre Pretorius (SA) - 65 (1 try, 9 conv, 10 pen, 4 drop)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c History of the Tri Nations. scrum.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ About the Tri Nations. rugby.com.au. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ a b Lomu clinches Tri-Nations epic. BBC. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ Tri Nations rugby, 2000. tarik.com.au. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ Argentina accuse New Zealand of dirty tricks. sarugby.com.au. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ IRB boss wants Argentina in Tri-Nations. rugby.com.au. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ 'SANZAR have failed the Pacific'. Planet Rugby. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ Pumas get Tri-Nations lifeline.. keo.co.za. Retrieved on October 27, 2007.
- ^ "Six Nations would be magnificent seven with us, pleads Pichot", Western Mail, 19 June 2006.
- ^ Cain, Nick (2007-02-25). Ambitious Argentina poised to secure TriNations place. The Sunday Times. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Tri Nations News from rugby.com.au
- FOX Sports Australia Rugby Union Tri-Nations section
- Tri nations news from Planet Rugby
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| Federation: | New Zealand Rugby Football Union |
| National teams: | All Blacks • Junior All Blacks • New Zealand Sevens • New Zealand Māori • Black Ferns |
| International Competitions: | Rugby World Cup • Tri Nations • Super 14 • Pacific Nations Cup • Bledisloe Cup • Churchill Cup • Rugby World Cup Sevens • IRB Sevens World Series • Wellington Sevens |
| Super 14 teams: | Blues • Chiefs • Crusaders • Highlanders • Hurricanes |
| Domestic Competitions: | Air New Zealand Cup • Heartland Championship • Ranfurly Shield • Hanan Shield |
| Air New Zealand Cup teams: | Auckland • Bay of Plenty • Canterbury • Counties Manukau • Hawke's Bay • Manawatu • North Harbour • Northland • Otago • Southland • Taranaki • Tasman • Waikato • Wellington |
| Heartland Championship teams: | Buller • East Coast • Horowhenua-Kapiti • King Country • Mid Canterbury • North Otago • Poverty Bay • South Canterbury • Thames Valley • Wairarapa Bush • Wanganui • West Coast |
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| Federation: | South African Rugby Union |
| National team: | South Africa • South Africa Sevens |
| International Competitions: | Rugby World Cup • Tri Nations • Super 14 • Mandela Challenge Plate • Freedom Cup • Rugby World Cup Sevens • IRB Sevens World Series • South Africa (George) Sevens |
| Super 14 teams: | Bulls • Cheetahs • Lions • Sharks • Stormers |
| Domestic Competitions: | Currie Cup • Vodacom Cup |
| Currie Cup Premier teams: | Blue Bulls • Free State Cheetahs • Golden Lions • Griquas • Natal Sharks • Pumas • Western Province • Falcons |
| Currie Cup Division One teams : | Boland Cavaliers • Border Bulldogs • Eagles • Griffons • Leopards • Mighty Elephants |
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| Rugby union in: | Australia • New Zealand • South Africa |
| Federations: | Australian Rugby Union • New Zealand Rugby Football Union • South African Rugby Union |
| National teams: | Australia • New Zealand • South Africa |
| Super 14 teams: | Blues • Brumbies • Bulls • Cheetahs • Chiefs • Crusaders • Force • Highlanders • Hurricanes • Lions • Reds • Sharks • Stormers • Waratahs |
| Champions: | Super 12 • Super 14 • Tri Nations |
