# 2002 Tri Nations Series

The 2002 Tri Nations Series was contested from 13 July to 17 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the tournament.
South Africa won their first Mandela Challenge Plate in a one-off home test against Australia. Australia made it 5 wins in a row in the Bledisloe Cup, having taken it from New Zealand in 1998. As of 2022, this was the last time that Australia won the Bledisloe Cup.

## Table

| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Table points |
| Place | Nation | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Table points |
| 1 | New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 97 | 65 | +32 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 2 | Australia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 86 | +5 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 103 | 140 | −37 | 2 | 1 | 7 |

## Results
### Round 1

* 13 July 2002 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| New Zealand | 12–6 | Australia (1 BP) |
| Pen: Mehrtens (4) | | Pen: Burke (2) |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 36,500 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett |
| OC | 13 | Mark Robinson |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Caleb Ralph |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Scott Robertson |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne (c) |
| RL | 5 | Simon Maling |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Greg Somerville |
| HK | 2 | Mark Hammett |
| LP | 1 | Dave Hewett |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tom Willis |
| PR | 17 | Joe McDonnell |
| LK | 18 | Royce Willis |
| LF | 19 | Sam Broomhall |
| SH | 20 | Byron Kelleher |
| FH | 21 | Dan Carter |
| FB | 22 | Ben Blair |
| Coach: ||
| John Mitchell ||
| FB | 15 | Chris Latham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Matt Burke |
| IC | 12 | Daniel Herbert |
| LW | 11 | Stirling Mortlock |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Toutai Kefu |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| RL | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Patricio Noriega |
| HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| LP | 1 | Bill Young |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Brendan Cannon |
| PR | 17 | Ben Darwin |
| LK | 18 | Matt Cockbain |
| N8 | 19 | David Lyons |
| SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker |
| FH | 21 | Elton Flatley |
| FB | 22 | Mat Rogers |
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||

### Round 2

* 20 July 2002 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 41–20 | South Africa |
| Try: Hammett Howlett Marshall Robertson Thorne Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (3) Drop: Mehrtens | | Try: Greeff Joubert Con: Pretorius (2) Pen: Pretorius Drop: Greeff |
* Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 37,693 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett |
| OC | 13 | Mark Robinson |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Caleb Ralph |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Scott Robertson |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne (c) |
| RL | 5 | Simon Maling |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Greg Somerville |
| HK | 2 | Mark Hammett |
| LP | 1 | Dave Hewett |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tom Willis |
| PR | 17 | Joe McDonnell |
| LK | 18 | Royce Willis |
| LF | 19 | Sam Broomhall |
| SH | 20 | Byron Kelleher |
| CE | 21 | Tana Umaga |
| WG | 22 | Jonah Lomu |
| Coach: ||
| John Mitchell ||
| FB | 15 | Werner Greeff |
| RW | 14 | Stefan Terblanche |
| OC | 13 | Marius Joubert |
| IC | 12 | De Wet Barry |
| LW | 11 | Dean Hall |
| FH | 10 | André Pretorius |
| SH | 9 | Bolla Conradie |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad |
| BF | 7 | Joe van Niekerk |
| OF | 6 | Corné Krige (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jannes Labuschagne |
| LL | 4 | Victor Matfield |
| TP | 3 | Willie Meyer |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Lawrence Sephaka |
| Replacements: ||
| PR | 16 | Ollie le Roux |
| PR | 17 | Faan Rautenbach |
| LK | 18 | AJ Venter |
| FL | 19 | Hendro Scholtz |
| SH | 20 | Neil de Kock |
| CE | 21 | Adrian Jacobs |
| WG | 22 | Breyton Paulse |
| Coach: ||
| Rudolf Straeuli ||

### Round 3

* 27 July 2002 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| (1 BP) Australia | 38–27 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Try: Latham (2) Tune Mortlock Con: Burke (3) Pen: Burke (3) Mortlock | | Try: Joubert (2) Skinstad Russell Con: Pretorius (2) Pen: Pretorius |
* The Gabba, Brisbane Attendance: 37,528 Referee: Steve Lander (England)
| FB | 15 | Chris Latham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Matt Burke |
| IC | 12 | Daniel Herbert |
| LW | 11 | Stirling Mortlock |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Toutai Kefu |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| RL | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Patricio Noriega |
| HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| LP | 1 | Bill Young |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Brendan Cannon |
| PR | 17 | Ben Darwin |
| LK | 18 | Matt Cockbain |
| N8 | 19 | David Lyons |
| SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker |
| FH | 21 | Elton Flatley |
| FB | 22 | Mat Rogers |
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||
| FB | 15 | Werner Greeff |
| RW | 14 | Stefan Terblanche |
| OC | 13 | Marius Joubert |
| IC | 12 | De Wet Barry |
| LW | 11 | Breyton Paulse |
| FH | 10 | André Pretorius |
| SH | 9 | Bolla Conradie |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad |
| BF | 7 | Joe van Niekerk |
| OF | 6 | Corné Krige (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jannes Labuschagne |
| LL | 4 | Victor Matfield |
| TP | 3 | Faan Rautenbach |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Lawrence Sephaka |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Delarey du Preez |
| PR | 17 | Ollie le Roux |
| LK | 18 | AJ Venter |
| FL | 19 | Hendro Scholtz |
| SH | 20 | Neil de Kock |
| CE | 21 | Adrian Jacobs |
| WG | 22 | Brent Russell |
| Coach: ||
| Rudolf Straeuli ||

### Round 4

* 3 August 2002 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 16–14 | New Zealand (1 BP) |
| Try: Rogers Sharpe Pen: Burke (2) | | Try: McCaw Pen: Mehrtens (3) |
* Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 79,543 Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
| FB | 15 | Chris Latham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Matt Burke |
| IC | 12 | Daniel Herbert |
| LW | 11 | Stirling Mortlock |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Toutai Kefu |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| RL | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Patricio Noriega |
| HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| LP | 1 | Bill Young |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Brendan Cannon |
| PR | 17 | Ben Darwin |
| LK | 18 | Matt Cockbain |
| N8 | 19 | David Lyons |
| SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker |
| FH | 21 | Elton Flatley |
| FB | 22 | Mat Rogers |
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett |
| OC | 13 | Tana Umaga |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Caleb Ralph |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Scott Robertson |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne (c) |
| RL | 5 | Simon Maling |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Greg Somerville |
| HK | 2 | Tom Willis |
| LP | 1 | Dave Hewett |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Andrew Hore |
| PR | 17 | Joe McDonnell |
| FL | 18 | Marty Holah |
| LF | 19 | Sam Broomhall |
| SH | 20 | Byron Kelleher |
| CE | 21 | Daryl Gibson |
| FB | 22 | Leon MacDonald |
| Coach: ||
| John Mitchell ||

### Round 5

* 10 August 2002 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| (1 BP) South Africa | 23–30 | New Zealand (1 BP) |
| Try: De Kock 2' Pretorius 32' Con: Pretorius (2) 3', 33' Pen: Pretorius (2) 27', 52' Drop: Pretorius 57' | | Try: MacDonald 4' Penalty try 17' Howlett 36' Mauger 80' Con: Mehrtens (2) 18', 80+1' Pen: Mehrtens (2) 54', 70' |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 52,500 Referee: Dave McHugh (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | Werner Greeff |
| RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse |
| OC | 13 | Marius Joubert |
| IC | 12 | De Wet Barry |
| LW | 11 | Dean Hall |
| FH | 10 | André Pretorius |
| SH | 9 | Neil de Kock |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad |
| BF | 7 | Joe van Niekerk |
| OF | 6 | Corné Krige (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jannes Labuschagne |
| LL | 4 | AJ Venter |
| TP | 3 | Willie Meyer |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Lawrence Sephaka |
| Replacements: ||
| PR | 16 | Ollie le Roux |
| PR | 17 | Faan Rautenbach |
| LK | 18 | Victor Matfield |
| FL | 19 | Hendro Scholtz |
| SH | 20 | Bolla Conradie |
| CE | 21 | Adrian Jacobs |
| WG | 22 | Brent Russell |
| Coach: ||
| Rudolf Straeuli ||
| FB | 15 | Leon MacDonald |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett |
| OC | 13 | Tana Umaga |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Caleb Ralph |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Scott Robertson |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne (c) |
| RL | 5 | Simon Maling |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Greg Somerville |
| HK | 2 | Tom Willis |
| LP | 1 | Dave Hewett |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Mark Hammett |
| PR | 17 | Joe McDonnell |
| FL | 18 | Sam Broomhall |
| LF | 19 | Marty Holah |
| SH | 20 | Byron Kelleher |
| CE | 21 | Daryl Gibson |
| WG | 22 | Jonah Lomu |
| Coach: ||
| John Mitchell ||
Referee McHugh had to be replaced in the 43rd minute after a drunk South African fan, Pieter van Zyl, ran onto the pitch and tackled him, leaving McHugh with a dislocated shoulder and having to be carried off on a stretcher. He was replaced by Chris White.

### Round 6

* 17 August 2002 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| (1 BP) South Africa | 33–31 | Australia (1 BP) |
| Try: Paulse (2) Greeff Russell Van Niekerk Con: Greeff (4) | | Try: Kefu Cannon Rogers Con: Burke (2) Pen: Burke (3) Drop: Gregan |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 63,000 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Werner Greeff |
| RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse |
| OC | 13 | Marius Joubert |
| IC | 12 | De Wet Barry |
| LW | 11 | Dean Hall |
| FH | 10 | Brent Russell |
| SH | 9 | Neil de Kock |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad |
| BF | 7 | Joe van Niekerk |
| OF | 6 | Corné Krige (c) |
| RL | 5 | AJ Venter |
| LL | 4 | Jannes Labuschagne |
| TP | 3 | Willie Meyer |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Lawrence Sephaka |
| Coach: ||
| Rudolf Straeuli ||
| FB | 15 | Chris Latham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Matt Burke |
| IC | 12 | Daniel Herbert |
| LW | 11 | Stirling Mortlock |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Toutai Kefu |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| RL | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Ben Darwin |
| HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| LP | 1 | Bill Young |
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||