# 1996 Tri Nations Series

The 1996 Tri Nations Series was the inaugural Tri Nations Series, a rugby union competition contested by the men's national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It was contested from 6 July to 10 August. New Zealand won all four of their matches to claim the title, as well as retaining the Bledisloe Cup won the previous year for their two wins over Australia.

## 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 60 | +59 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 84 | –14 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Australia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 116 | –45 | 0 | 2 | 6 |

## Results
### New Zealand v Australia

* 6 July 1996 14:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 43–6 | Australia |
| Try: Brooke Cullen Jones Lomu Marshall Wilson Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (3) | | Pen: Burke (2) |
* Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 39,523 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Walter Little |
| LW | 11 | Jonah Lomu |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Michael Jones |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Eric Rush |
| CE | 17 | Scott McLeod |
| SH | 18 | Jon Preston |
| LK | 19 | Blair Larsen |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke |
| RW | 14 | David Campese |
| OC | 13 | Joe Roff |
| IC | 12 | Tim Horan |
| LW | 11 | Ben Tune |
| FH | 10 | Scott Bowen |
| SH | 9 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 8 | Michael Brial |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson |
| BF | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| RL | 5 | John Eales (c) |
| LL | 4 | Garrick Morgan |
| TP | 3 | Dan Crowley |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Stephen Larkham |
| FH | 17 | Pat Howard |
| SH | 18 | George Gregan |
| FL | 19 | Daniel Manu |
| PR | 20 | Andrew Heath |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||

### Australia v South Africa

* 13 July 1996 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 21–16 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Try: Roff Horan Con: Burke Pen: Burke (3) | | Try: Hendriks Con: Honiball Pen: Honiball (2) Joubert |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,850 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke |
| RW | 14 | David Campese |
| OC | 13 | Joe Roff |
| IC | 12 | Tim Horan |
| LW | 11 | Ben Tune |
| FH | 10 | Pat Howard |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Michael Brial |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson |
| BF | 6 | Daniel Manu |
| RL | 5 | John Eales (c) |
| LL | 4 | Garrick Morgan |
| TP | 3 | Dan Crowley |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Andrew Heath |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Daniel Herbert |
| FH | 17 | Scott Bowen |
| SH | 18 | Sam Payne |
| FL | 19 | Owen Finegan |
| PR | 20 | Richard Harry |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||
| FB | 15 | André Joubert |
| RW | 14 | James Small |
| OC | 13 | Japie Mulder |
| IC | 12 | Brendan Venter |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Hendriks |
| FH | 10 | Henry Honiball |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann |
| OF | 7 | Ruben Kruger |
| BF | 6 | Francois Pienaar (c) |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Johan Ackermann |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | John Allan |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Justin Swart |
| FH | 17 | Joel Stransky |
| SH | 18 | Johan Roux |
| PR | 19 | Balie Swart |
| HK | 20 | Naka Drotské |
| LK | 21 | Steve Atherton |
| Coach: ||
| Andre Markgraaff ||

### New Zealand v South Africa

* 20 July 1996 14:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| New Zealand | 15–11 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Pen: Mehrtens (5) | | Try: Joubert Pen: Stransky (2) |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Ray Megson (Scotland)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Walter Little |
| LW | 11 | Jonah Lomu |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Michael Jones |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Eric Rush |
| CE | 17 | Scott McLeod |
| SH | 18 | Jon Preston |
| LK | 19 | Blair Larsen |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||
| FB | 15 | André Joubert |
| RW | 14 | James Small |
| OC | 13 | Japie Mulder |
| IC | 12 | Brendan Venter |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Hendriks |
| FH | 10 | Joel Stransky |
| SH | 9 | Johan Roux |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann |
| OF | 7 | Ruben Kruger |
| BF | 6 | Francois Pienaar (c) |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Johan Ackermann |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | John Allan |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Justin Swart |
| CE | 17 | Danie van Schalkwyk |
| SH | 18 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| LK | 19 | Steve Atherton |
| PR | 20 | Balie Swart |
| HK | 21 | Naka Drotské |
| Coach: ||
| Andre Markgraaff ||

### Australia v New Zealand

* 27 July 1996 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| (1 BP) Australia | 25–32 | New Zealand |
| Try: Burke Gregan Pen: Burke (5) | | Try: Bunce Marshall Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (6) |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 40,167 Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke |
| RW | 14 | David Campese |
| OC | 13 | Joe Roff |
| IC | 12 | Richard Tombs |
| LW | 11 | Ben Tune |
| FH | 10 | Pat Howard |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Michael Brial |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson |
| BF | 6 | Daniel Manu |
| RL | 5 | John Eales (c) |
| LL | 4 | Garrick Morgan |
| TP | 3 | Andrew Heath |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Daniel Herbert |
| FH | 17 | Scott Bowen |
| SH | 18 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 19 | Tim Gavin |
| PR | 20 | Dan Crowley |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Walter Little |
| LW | 11 | Jonah Lomu |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Michael Jones |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| FB | 16 | Glen Osborne |
| CE | 17 | Scott McLeod |
| SH | 18 | Jon Preston |
| LK | 19 | Blair Larsen |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||

### South Africa v Australia

* 3 August 1996 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 25–19 | Australia (1 BP) |
| Try: Stransky Con: Stransky Pen: Stransky (6) | | Try: Tune Con: Eales Pen: Burke Eales (3) |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Brian Stirling (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | James Small |
| RW | 14 | Justin Swart |
| OC | 13 | Japie Mulder |
| IC | 12 | Brendan Venter |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Hendriks |
| FH | 10 | Joel Stransky |
| SH | 9 | Johan Roux |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann |
| OF | 7 | Ruben Kruger |
| BF | 6 | Francois Pienaar |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Johan Ackermann |
| TP | 3 | Balie Swart |
| HK | 2 | John Allan |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Danie van Schalkwyk |
| FH | 17 | Vlok Cilliers |
| SH | 18 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| LK | 19 | Hannes Strydom |
| PR | 20 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 21 | Henry Tromp |
| Coach: ||
| Andre Markgraaff ||
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke |
| RW | 14 | David Campese |
| OC | 13 | Daniel Herbert |
| IC | 12 | Pat Howard |
| LW | 11 | Ben Tune |
| FH | 10 | Scott Bowen |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Tim Gavin |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson |
| BF | 6 | Michael Brial |
| RL | 5 | John Eales (c) |
| LL | 4 | John Welborn |
| TP | 3 | Andrew Heath |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Dan Crowley |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Joe Roff |
| CE | 17 | Richard Tombs |
| SH | 18 | Sam Payne |
| FL | 19 | Daniel Manu |
| PR | 20 | Richard Harry |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||

### South Africa v New Zealand

* 10 August 1996 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 18–29 | New Zealand |
| Try: Du Randt Mulder Con: Stransky Pen: Stransky (2) | | Try: Osborne Dowd Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (5) |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 51,000 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | James Small |
| RW | 14 | Pieter Hendriks |
| OC | 13 | Japie Mulder |
| IC | 12 | Hennie le Roux |
| LW | 11 | Justin Swart |
| FH | 10 | Joel Stransky |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann |
| OF | 7 | Ruben Kruger |
| BF | 6 | Francois Pienaar (c) |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Steve Atherton |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | John Allan |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Danie van Schalkwyk |
| FH | 17 | Vlok Cilliers |
| SH | 18 | Joggie Viljoen |
| LK | 19 | Hannes Strydom |
| PR | 20 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 21 | Henry Tromp |
| Coach: ||
| Andre Markgraaff ||
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Walter Little |
| LW | 11 | Glen Osborne |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Michael Jones |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Alama Ieremia |
| SH | 17 | Jon Preston |
| FL | 18 | Andrew Blowers |
| LK | 19 | Blair Larsen |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||