# 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.

## 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

| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Table points |
| Place | Nation | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference | Bonus points | Table points |
| 1 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 152 | 106 | +46 | 3 | 19 |
| 2 | Australia | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 119 | 163 | −44 | 2 | 14 |
| 3 | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 115 | 117 | −2 | 2 | 10 |

## Fixtures

* 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 ||
* Touch judges:
* Matt Goddard (Australia)
* Paul Marks (Australia)
* Television match official:
* George Ayoub (Australia)
* 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 ||
* Touch judges:
* Paul Marks (Australia)
* James Leckie (Australia)
* Television match official:
* George Ayoub (Australia)
* 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 ||
* Touch judges:
* Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
* James Bolabiu (Fiji)
* Television match official:
* Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
* 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 ||
* Touch judges:
* Craig Joubert (South Africa)
* James Bolabiu (Fiji)
* Television match official:
* Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
* 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)