The 2007 Tri Nations Series was an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series began in South Africa on 16 June, with a Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands, Cape Town and ended on 21 July in Eden Park, Auckland with a Test between New Zealand and Australia. The winners, for the third consecutive year, were New Zealand.
The 2007 series consisted of six matches (two home matches each), three fewer than the 2006 series, because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup which would commence on 7 September. The draw was scheduled to ensure that no team played more than two matches in a row, the early finish allowing each team seven full weeks before the start of the World Cup.
The competition reverted to a nine-Test series from 2008 onwards. Early in 2007, it was thought that there was a chance that could be admitted to the competition as early as 2008, as it had been reported that the worldwide governing body for rugby union, the International Rugby Board, was brokering a deal for the entry of the Pumas. However, by August of that year, it became clear that the competition would not be expanded while the current media contracts ran; the key contract with News Corporation would not expire until 2010.
The tournament had been put into jeopardy after the Springboks team confirmed they were sending a below strength side for the Australasian leg of the tournament.
Springbok selection controversy New Zealand and Australian rugby officials considered on the news of the below strength Springbok team, that they might consider scrapping their remaining fixtures against South Africa but cited that because of many arrangements including broadcasting, stadium and ticket arrangements that it might be too complicated. The ARU also retracted proposals to continue the series without the Springboks after SARU sent a medical report, citing a sport scientist saying "they (the Springboks) might as well not bother going to the World Cup" if they send top injured players to the remaining games. The match turned out to be much more competitive than many observers had predicted, with South Africa storming to a 17–0 lead in the first 16 minutes before the Wallabies regained their composure to eventually overrun the Boks 25–17.
Standings Place Nation Games Points Bonuspoints Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference1430110059+41113242027680−4193410366103−3715
Results All times are local.
Round 1
FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Ashwin Willemse OC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11JP PietersenFH 10Butch JamesSH 9Ruan PienaarN8 8Pierre SpiesOF 7Juan Smith BF 6Schalk BurgerRL 5Victor MatfieldLL 4Bakkies Botha TP 3BJ Botha HK 2John Smit (c) LP 1Gurthro Steenkamp Substitutions:HK 16Gary Botha PR 17CJ van der Linde LK 18Johann Muller N8 19Danie Rossouw SH 20Michael ClaassensCE 21Wynand OlivierFB 22François Steyn Coach: Jake White FB 15Julian HuxleyRW 14Drew MitchellOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Guy ShepherdsonHK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt DunningSubstitutions:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Al BaxterLK 18Mark Chisholm FL 19Stephen Hoiles FL 20Phil Waugh CE 21Adam Ashley-CooperWG 22Mark Gerrard Coach: John Connolly
Round 2
FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Ashwin Willemse OC 13Jaque FourieIC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11JP PietersenFH 10Butch James SH 9 Ruan PienaarN8 8 Bobby Skinstad OF 7 Danie RossouwBF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor Matfield (c)LL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 BJ BothaHK 2 Gary BothaLP 1 Os du Randt Substitutions:HK 16Bismarck du PlessisPR 17CJ van der Linde LK 18Johann Muller N8 19Pedrie Wannenburg SH 20Michael ClaassensFH 21Wynand Olivier CE 22François Steyn Coach: Jake White FB 15Mils Muliaina RW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Isaia ToeavaIC 12Aaron Mauger LW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Greg Rawlinson LL 4 Troy FlavellTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Anton Oliver LP 1 Tony WoodcockSubstitutions:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Neemia TialataLK 18Ross Filipo FL 19Chris MasoeSH 20Piri Weepu CE 21Luke McAlister FB 22Leon MacDonald Coach: Graham Henry
Round 3
FB 15Julian HuxleyRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c)IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Rocky Elsom OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Wycliff Palu RL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Guy ShepherdsonHK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt Dunning Substitutions:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Al Baxter FL 18Mark Chisholm LK 19Stephen Hoiles FL 20Phil Waugh FH 21Scott Staniforth FB 22Mark GerrardCoach: John Connolly FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Rico GearOC 13Luke McAlisterIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Joe Rokocoko FH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Troy Flavell LL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Anton Oliver LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutions:PR 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Neemia Tialata LK 18Ross Filipo FL 19Chris Masoe SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Nick EvansWG 22Sitiveni Sivivatu Coach: Graham Henry
Round 4
FB 15Julian HuxleyRW 14Mark GerrardOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c)IC 12Matt Giteau LW 11Adam Ashley-Cooper FH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Stephen Hoiles OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Adam Freier LP 1 Matt Dunning Substitutions:HK 16Sean Hardman PR 17Al Baxter LK 18Hugh McMeniman FL 19David Lyons FL 20Phil Waugh FH 21Scott Staniforth FB 22Drew Mitchell Coach: John Connolly FB 15Bevin Fortuin RW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Waylon MurrayIC 12Wynand OlivierLW 11JP PietersenFH 10Derick Hougaard SH 9 Ruan PienaarN8 8 Bobby Skinstad (c) OF 7 Pedrie Wannenburg BF 6 Wikus van HeerdenRL 5 Johann MullerLL 4 Johan Ackerman TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Gary Botha LP 1 CJ van der LindeSubstitutions:PR 16Bismarck du Plessis PR 17Eddie Andrews LK 18Albert van den Berg FL 19Jacques Cronjé SH 20Michael Claassens FH 21Peter Grant CE 22Jaco PretoriusCoach: Jack White
Round 5
FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Doug Howlett OC 13Isaia Toeava IC 12Luke McAlisterLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Piri Weepu N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Reuben ThorneRL 5 Keith Robinson LL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony WoodcockSubstitutions:HK 16Andrew Hore PR 17Neemia Tialata FL 18Jerry Collins FL 19Chris Masoe SH 20Brendon Leonard CE 21Conrad Smith FH 22Nick Evans Coach: Graham Henry FB 15JP PietersenRW 14Breyton Paulse OC 13Waylon MurrayIC 12Wynand OlivierLW 11Jaco Pretorius FH 10Derick Hougaard SH 9 Ruan PienaarN8 8 Jacques CronjéOF 7 Pedrie Wannenburg BF 6 Wikus van HeerdenRL 5 Johann Muller (c)LL 4 Albert van den Berg TP 3 Jannie du PlessisHK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 CJ van der Linde Substitutions:HK 16Gary Botha PR 17Eddie Andrews LK 18Gerrie Britz FL 19Hilton Lobberts SH 20Michael Claassens FH 21Peter Grant WG 22Tonderai Chavhanga Coach: Jake White
Round 6
FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Isaia ToeavaIC 12Luke McAlisterLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Byron KelleherN8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Chris JackLL 4 Keith RobinsonTP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Anton OliverLP 1 Tony WoodcockSubstitutions:HK 16Keven MealamuPR 17Neemia TialataLK 18Reuben ThorneFL 19Chris MasoeSH 20Brendon LeonardCE 21Aaron MaugerFH 22Nick EvansCoach: Graham Henry FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Mark GerrardOC 13Stirling Mortlock (c)IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Stephen HoilesOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Guy ShepherdsonHK 2 Stephen MooreLP 1 Matt DunningSubstitutions:HK 16Adam FreierPR 17Al BaxterFL 18Hugh McMenimanLK 19Mark ChisholmFL 20Phil WaughCE 21Scott StaniforthFB 22Chris LathamCoach: John Connolly
References
External links All Blacks Tri Nations website
Wallabies Tri Nations website