# 1997 Tri Nations Series

The 1997 Tri Nations Series was the second Tri Nations Series, an international rugby union competition contested by the men's national teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It was played from 19 July to 23 August, with each team playing each of the others twice – once at home and once away. New Zealand won all four of their matches to claim a second straight title.
New Zealand also won the Bledisloe Cup, a title contested only between themselves and Australia, for the third year in a row. They led 1–0 going into the Tri Nations, having won the test between them in Christchurch two weeks before the start of the series, and the two victories in the Tri Nations gave them a 3–0 final result.

## 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 | 159 | 109 | +50 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 148 | 144 | –4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Australia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 150 | –54 | 2 | 0 | 6 |

## Results
### South Africa v New Zealand

* 19 July 1997 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| (1 BP) South Africa | 32–35 | New Zealand (1 BP) |
| Try: Bennett Drotské Con: De Beer (2) Pen: De Beer (4) Drop: De Beer (2) | | Try: Bunce (2) Spencer Wilson Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (3) |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)
| FB | 15 | Russell Bennett |
| RW | 14 | André Snyman |
| OC | 13 | Percy Montgomery |
| IC | 12 | Danie van Schalkwyk |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Rossouw |
| FH | 10 | Jannie de Beer |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| OF | 7 | André Venter |
| BF | 6 | Ruben Kruger |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Krynauw Otto |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | Naka Drotské |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| FB | 16 | James Small |
| CE | 17 | Henry Honiball |
| SH | 18 | Werner Swanepoel |
| LK | 19 | Fritz van Heerden |
| PR | 20 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 21 | Chris Rossouw |
| Coach: ||
| Carel du Plessis ||
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Lee Stensness |
| LW | 11 | Tana Umaga |
| FH | 10 | Carlos Spencer |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Taine Randell |
| 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 |
| FH | 17 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 18 | Ofisa Tonu'u |
| LK | 19 | Charles Riechelmann |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||

### Australia v New Zealand

* 26 July 1997 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| Australia | 18–33 | New Zealand |
| Try: Gregan Little Con: Burke Pen: Burke (2) | | Try: Bunce Cullen Wilson Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (4) |
* Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 90,119 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)
| FB | 15 | Matt Burke |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Jason Little |
| IC | 12 | James Holbeck |
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff |
| FH | 10 | Tim Horan |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Michael Brial |
| OF | 7 | Brett Robinson |
| 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: ||
| FH | 17 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 19 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 16 | Troy Coker |
| FL | 18 | David Wilson |
| PR | 20 | Andrew Blades |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Alama Ieremia |
| LW | 11 | Glen Osborne |
| FH | 10 | Carlos Spencer |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Taine Randell |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| FB | 16 | Adrian Cashmore |
| FH | 17 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 18 | Ofisa Tonu'u |
| LK | 19 | Charles Riechelmann |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||

### Australia v South Africa

* 2 August 1997 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
| (1 BP) Australia | 32–20 | South Africa |
| Try: Tune (2) Larkham Manu Con: Knox (3) Pen: Knox (2) | | Try: Andrews De Beer Du Randt Con: De Beer Pen: De Beer |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 36,000 Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Stephen Larkham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Jason Little |
| IC | 12 | James Holbeck |
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff |
| FH | 10 | David Knox |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Daniel Manu |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson |
| BF | 6 | Matt Cockbain |
| RL | 5 | John Eales (c) |
| LL | 4 | Owen Finegan |
| TP | 3 | Andrew Heath |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry |
| Replacements: ||
| FH | 16 | Elton Flatley |
| SH | 17 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 18 | Troy Coker |
| FL | 19 | Brett Robinson |
| PR | 20 | Andrew Blades |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||
| FB | 15 | Russell Bennett |
| RW | 14 | André Snyman |
| OC | 13 | Percy Montgomery |
| IC | 12 | Danie van Schalkwyk |
| LW | 11 | Pieter Rossouw |
| FH | 10 | Jannie de Beer |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| OF | 7 | André Venter |
| BF | 6 | Ruben Kruger |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Krynauw Otto |
| TP | 3 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 2 | Naka Drotské |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | James Small |
| FH | 17 | Henry Honiball |
| SH | 18 | Werner Swanepoel |
| LK | 19 | Fritz van Heerden |
| PR | 20 | Adrian Garvey |
| HK | 21 | James Dalton |
| Coach: ||
| Carel du Plessis ||

### New Zealand v South Africa

* 9 August 1997 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 55–35 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Try: Cullen (2) Ieremia Marshall Randell Spencer Umaga Con: Spencer (4) Pen: Spencer (4) | | Try: Kruger Montgomery Rossouw Teichmann Van der Westhuizen Con: De Beer (3) Honiball (2) |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 48,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Alama Ieremia |
| LW | 11 | Tana Umaga |
| FH | 10 | Carlos Spencer |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Taine Randell |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Scott McLeod |
| FH | 17 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 18 | Ofisa Tonu'u |
| LK | 19 | Charles Riechelmann |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Norm Hewitt |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||
| FB | 15 | Russell Bennett |
| RW | 14 | James Small |
| OC | 13 | Percy Montgomery |
| IC | 12 | Henry Honiball |
| LW | 11 | André Snyman |
| FH | 10 | Jannie de Beer |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| OF | 7 | André Venter |
| BF | 6 | Ruben Kruger |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Krynauw Otto |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Pieter Rossouw |
| CE | 17 | Joe Gillingham |
| SH | 18 | Werner Swanepoel |
| LK | 19 | Fritz van Heerden |
| PR | 20 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 21 | Naka Drotské |
| Coach: ||
| Carel du Plessis ||

### New Zealand v Australia

* 16 August 1997 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
| New Zealand | 36–24 | Australia (1 BP) |
| Try: Cullen Marshall Randell Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (5) | | Try: Larkham (2) Roff Tune Con: Knox (2) |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 42,500 Referee: Joël Dumé (France)
| FB | 15 | Christian Cullen |
| RW | 14 | Jeff Wilson |
| OC | 13 | Frank Bunce |
| IC | 12 | Alama Ieremia |
| LW | 11 | Glen Osborne |
| FH | 10 | Carlos Spencer |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Zinzan Brooke |
| OF | 7 | Josh Kronfeld |
| BF | 6 | Taine Randell |
| RL | 5 | Robin Brooke |
| LL | 4 | Ian Jones |
| TP | 3 | Olo Brown |
| HK | 2 | Sean Fitzpatrick (c) |
| LP | 1 | Craig Dowd |
| Replacements: ||
| CE | 16 | Scott McLeod |
| FH | 17 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 18 | Ofisa Tonu'u |
| LK | 19 | Charles Riechelmann |
| PR | 20 | Bull Allen |
| HK | 21 | Anton Oliver |
| Coach: ||
| John Hart ||
| FB | 15 | Stephen Larkham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Jason Little |
| IC | 12 | James Holbeck |
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff |
| FH | 10 | David Knox |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Troy Coker |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson (c) |
| BF | 6 | Fili Finau |
| RL | 5 | John Langford |
| LL | 4 | Owen Finegan |
| TP | 3 | Andrew Blades |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Mitch Hardy |
| SH | 17 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 18 | Toutai Kefu |
| FL | 19 | Brett Robinson |
| HK | 20 | Marco Caputo |
| PR | 21 | Andrew Heath |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||

### South Africa v Australia

* 23 August 1997 15:00 SAST (UTC+2)
| (1 BP) South Africa | 61–22 | Australia |
| Try: Montgomery (2) Andrews Brosnihan Dalton De Beer Erasmus Rossouw Con: De Beer (6) Pen: De Beer (3) | | Try: Knox Little Roff Con: Knox (2) Pen: Knox |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | André Joubert |
| RW | 14 | James Small |
| OC | 13 | Percy Montgomery |
| IC | 12 | Henry Honiball |
| LW | 11 | André Snyman |
| FH | 10 | Jannie de Beer |
| SH | 9 | Joost van der Westhuizen |
| N8 | 8 | Gary Teichmann (c) |
| OF | 7 | Rassie Erasmus |
| BF | 6 | Warren Brosnihan |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews |
| LL | 4 | Hannes Strydom |
| TP | 3 | Marius Hurter |
| HK | 2 | James Dalton |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Pieter Rossouw |
| SH | 17 | Werner Swanepoel |
| FL | 18 | Schutte Bekker |
| LK | 19 | Braam Els |
| PR | 20 | Dawie Theron |
| HK | 21 | Naka Drotské |
| Coach: ||
| Carel du Plessis ||
| FB | 15 | Stephen Larkham |
| RW | 14 | Ben Tune |
| OC | 13 | Jason Little |
| IC | 12 | James Holbeck |
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff |
| FH | 10 | David Knox |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Troy Coker |
| OF | 7 | David Wilson (c) |
| BF | 6 | Matt Cockbain |
| RL | 5 | John Langford |
| LL | 4 | Owen Finegan |
| TP | 3 | Andrew Blades |
| HK | 2 | Michael Foley |
| LP | 1 | Richard Harry |
| Replacements: ||
| WG | 16 | Mitch Hardy |
| SH | 17 | Sam Payne |
| N8 | 18 | Toutai Kefu |
| FL | 19 | Brett Robinson |
| PR | 20 | Andrew Heath |
| HK | 21 | Marco Caputo |
| Coach: ||
| Greg Smith ||