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 2025, this was the last time that Australia won the Bledisloe Cup.
Table Place Nation Games Points Trybonus Losingbonus Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against 143019765+322115242029186+5121134103103140−37217
Results
Round 1
FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Mark RobinsonIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Caleb RalphFH 10Andrew MehrtensSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Scott RobertsonOF 7 Richie McCawBF 6 Reuben Thorne (c)RL 5 Simon MalingLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Mark HammettLP 1 Dave HewettReplacements:HK 16Tom WillisPR 17Joe McDonnellLK 18Royce WillisLF 19Sam BroomhallSH 20Byron KelleherFH 21Dan CarterFB 22Ben BlairCoach: John Mitchell FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Matt BurkeIC 12Daniel HerbertLW 11Stirling MortlockFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 Toutai KefuOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Owen FineganRL 5 Justin HarrisonLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Patricio NoriegaHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Brendan CannonPR 17Ben DarwinLK 18Matt CockbainN8 19David LyonsSH 20Chris WhitakerFH 21Elton FlatleyFB 22Mat RogersCoach: Eddie Jones
Round 2
FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Mark RobinsonIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Caleb RalphFH 10Andrew MehrtensSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Scott RobertsonOF 7 Richie McCawBF 6 Reuben Thorne (c)RL 5 Simon MalingLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Mark HammettLP 1 Dave HewettReplacements:HK 16Tom WillisPR 17Joe McDonnellLK 18Royce WillisLF 19Sam BroomhallSH 20Byron KelleherCE 21Tana UmagaWG 22Jonah LomuCoach: John Mitchell FB 15Werner GreeffRW 14Stefan TerblancheOC 13Marius JoubertIC 12De Wet BarryLW 11Dean HallFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Bolla ConradieN8 8 Bobby SkinstadBF 7 Joe van NiekerkOF 6 Corné Krige (c)RL 5 Jannes LabuschagneLL 4 Victor MatfieldTP 3 Willie MeyerHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Lawrence SephakaReplacements:PR 16Ollie le RouxPR 17Faan RautenbachLK 18AJ VenterFL 19Hendro ScholtzSH 20Neil de KockCE 21Adrian JacobsWG 22Breyton PaulseCoach: Rudolf Straeuli
Round 3
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Matt BurkeIC 12Daniel HerbertLW 11Stirling MortlockFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 Toutai KefuOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Owen FineganRL 5 Justin HarrisonLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Patricio NoriegaHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Brendan CannonPR 17Ben DarwinLK 18Matt CockbainN8 19David LyonsSH 20Chris WhitakerFH 21Elton FlatleyFB 22Mat RogersCoach: Eddie Jones FB 15Werner GreeffRW 14Stefan TerblancheOC 13Marius JoubertIC 12De Wet BarryLW 11Breyton PaulseFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Bolla ConradieN8 8 Bobby SkinstadBF 7 Joe van NiekerkOF 6 Corné Krige (c)RL 5 Jannes LabuschagneLL 4 Victor MatfieldTP 3 Faan RautenbachHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Lawrence SephakaReplacements:HK 16Delarey du PreezPR 17Ollie le RouxLK 18AJ VenterFL 19Hendro ScholtzSH 20Neil de KockCE 21Adrian JacobsWG 22Brent RussellCoach: Rudolf Straeuli
Round 4
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Matt BurkeIC 12Daniel HerbertLW 11Stirling MortlockFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 Toutai KefuOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Owen FineganRL 5 Justin HarrisonLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Patricio NoriegaHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungReplacements:HK 16Brendan CannonPR 17Ben DarwinLK 18Matt CockbainN8 19David LyonsSH 20Chris WhitakerFH 21Elton FlatleyFB 22Mat RogersCoach: Eddie Jones FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Tana UmagaIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Caleb RalphFH 10Andrew MehrtensSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Scott RobertsonOF 7 Richie McCawBF 6 Reuben Thorne (c)RL 5 Simon MalingLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Tom WillisLP 1 Dave HewettReplacements:HK 16Andrew HorePR 17Joe McDonnellFL 18Marty HolahLF 19Sam BroomhallSH 20Byron KelleherCE 21Daryl GibsonFB 22Leon MacDonaldCoach: John Mitchell
Round 5
FB 15Werner GreeffRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Marius JoubertIC 12De Wet BarryLW 11Dean HallFH 10André PretoriusSH 9 Neil de KockN8 8 Bobby SkinstadBF 7 Joe van NiekerkOF 6 Corné Krige (c)RL 5 Jannes LabuschagneLL 4 AJ VenterTP 3 Willie MeyerHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Lawrence SephakaReplacements:PR 16Ollie le RouxPR 17Faan RautenbachLK 18Victor MatfieldFL 19Hendro ScholtzSH 20Bolla ConradieCE 21Adrian JacobsWG 22Brent RussellCoach: Rudolf Straeuli FB 15Leon MacDonaldRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Tana UmagaIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Caleb RalphFH 10Andrew MehrtensSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Scott RobertsonOF 7 Richie McCawBF 6 Reuben Thorne (c)RL 5 Simon MalingLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Tom WillisLP 1 Dave HewettReplacements:HK 16Mark HammettPR 17Joe McDonnellFL 18Sam BroomhallLF 19Marty HolahSH 20Byron KelleherCE 21Daryl GibsonWG 22Jonah LomuCoach: 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
FB 15Werner GreeffRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Marius JoubertIC 12De Wet BarryLW 11Dean HallFH 10Brent RussellSH 9 Neil de KockN8 8 Bobby SkinstadBF 7 Joe van NiekerkOF 6 Corné Krige (c)RL 5 AJ VenterLL 4 Jannes LabuschagneTP 3 Willie MeyerHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Lawrence SephakaCoach: Rudolf Straeuli FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Matt BurkeIC 12Daniel HerbertLW 11Stirling MortlockFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George Gregan (c)N8 8 Toutai KefuOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Owen FineganRL 5 Justin HarrisonLL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Ben DarwinHK 2 Jeremy PaulLP 1 Bill YoungCoach: Eddie Jones
References
External links Tri Nations at Rugby.com.au