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 Points Trybonus Losingbonus Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against 1 4 4 0 0 159 109 +50 2 0 18 2 4 1 0 3 148 144 –4 2 1 7 3 4 1 0 3 96 150 –54 2 0 6
Results Round 1
FB 15Russell BennettRW 14André SnymanOC 13Percy MontgomeryIC 12Danie van SchalkwykLW 11Pieter RossouwFH 10Jannie de BeerSH 9 Joost van der WesthuizenN8 8 Gary Teichmann (c)OF 7 André VenterBF 6 Ruben KrugerRL 5 Mark AndrewsLL 4 Krynauw OttoTP 3 Marius HurterHK 2 Naka DrotskéLP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:FB 16James SmallCE 17Henry HoniballSH 18Werner SwanepoelLK 19Fritz van HeerdenPR 20Dawie TheronHK 21Chris RossouwCoach: Carel du Plessis FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Jeff WilsonOC 13Frank BunceIC 12Lee StensnessLW 11Tana UmagaFH 10Carlos SpencerSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Zinzan BrookeOF 7 Josh KronfeldBF 6 Taine RandellRL 5 Robin BrookeLL 4 Ian JonesTP 3 Olo BrownHK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c)LP 1 Craig DowdReplacements:CE 16Alama IeremiaFH 17Andrew MehrtensSH 18Ofisa Tonu'uLK 19Charles RiechelmannPR 20Bull AllenHK 21Norm HewittCoach: John Hart
Round 2
FB 15Matt BurkeRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Jason LittleIC 12James HolbeckLW 11Joe RoffFH 10Tim HoranSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Michael BrialOF 7 Brett RobinsonBF 6 Daniel ManuRL 5 John Eales (c)LL 4 Garrick MorganTP 3 Andrew HeathHK 2 Michael FoleyLP 1 Richard HarryReplacements:FH 17Stephen LarkhamSH 19Sam PayneN8 16Troy CokerFL 18David WilsonPR 20Andrew BladesHK 21Marco CaputoCoach: Greg Smith FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Jeff WilsonOC 13Frank BunceIC 12Alama IeremiaLW 11Glen OsborneFH 10Carlos SpencerSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Zinzan BrookeOF 7 Josh KronfeldBF 6 Taine RandellRL 5 Robin BrookeLL 4 Ian JonesTP 3 Olo BrownHK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c)LP 1 Craig DowdReplacements:FB 16Adrian CashmoreFH 17Andrew MehrtensSH 18Ofisa Tonu'uLK 19Charles RiechelmannPR 20Bull AllenHK 21Norm HewittCoach: John Hart
Notes A virtually unknown Hugh Jackman sang the national anthem for Australia in this match.
Round 3
FB 15Stephen LarkhamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Jason LittleIC 12James HolbeckLW 11Joe RoffFH 10David KnoxSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Daniel ManuOF 7 David WilsonBF 6 Matt CockbainRL 5 John Eales (c)LL 4 Owen FineganTP 3 Andrew HeathHK 2 Michael FoleyLP 1 Richard HarryReplacements:FH 16Elton FlatleySH 17Sam PayneN8 18Troy CokerFL 19Brett RobinsonPR 20Andrew BladesHK 21Marco CaputoCoach: Greg Smith FB 15Russell BennettRW 14André SnymanOC 13Percy MontgomeryIC 12Danie van SchalkwykLW 11Pieter RossouwFH 10Jannie de BeerSH 9 Joost van der WesthuizenN8 8 Gary Teichmann (c)OF 7 André VenterBF 6 Ruben KrugerRL 5 Mark AndrewsLL 4 Krynauw OttoTP 3 Dawie TheronHK 2 Naka DrotskéLP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:WG 16James SmallFH 17Henry HoniballSH 18Werner SwanepoelLK 19Fritz van HeerdenPR 20Adrian GarveyHK 21James DaltonCoach: Carel du Plessis
Round 4
FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Jeff WilsonOC 13Frank BunceIC 12Alama IeremiaLW 11Tana UmagaFH 10Carlos SpencerSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Zinzan BrookeOF 7 Josh KronfeldBF 6 Taine RandellRL 5 Robin BrookeLL 4 Ian JonesTP 3 Olo BrownHK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c)LP 1 Craig DowdReplacements:CE 16Scott McLeodFH 17Andrew MehrtensSH 18Ofisa Tonu'uLK 19Charles RiechelmannPR 20Bull AllenHK 21Norm HewittCoach: John Hart FB 15Russell BennettRW 14James SmallOC 13Percy MontgomeryIC 12Henry HoniballLW 11André SnymanFH 10Jannie de BeerSH 9 Joost van der WesthuizenN8 8 Gary Teichmann (c)OF 7 André Venter BF 6 Ruben KrugerRL 5 Mark AndrewsLL 4 Krynauw OttoTP 3 Marius HurterHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:WG 16Pieter RossouwCE 17Joe GillinghamSH 18Werner SwanepoelLK 19Fritz van HeerdenPR 20Dawie TheronHK 21Naka DrotskéCoach: Carel du Plessis
Round 5
FB 15Christian CullenRW 14Jeff WilsonOC 13Frank BunceIC 12Alama IeremiaLW 11Glen OsborneFH 10Carlos SpencerSH 9 Justin MarshallN8 8 Zinzan BrookeOF 7 Josh KronfeldBF 6 Taine RandellRL 5 Robin BrookeLL 4 Ian JonesTP 3 Olo BrownHK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c)LP 1 Craig DowdReplacements:CE 16Scott McLeodFH 17Andrew MehrtensSH 18Ofisa Tonu'uLK 19Charles RiechelmannPR 20Bull AllenHK 21Anton OliverCoach: John Hart FB 15Stephen LarkhamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Jason LittleIC 12James HolbeckLW 11Joe RoffFH 10David KnoxSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Troy CokerOF 7 David Wilson (c)BF 6 Fili FinauRL 5 John LangfordLL 4 Owen FineganTP 3 Andrew BladesHK 2 Michael FoleyLP 1 Richard HarryReplacements:WG 16Mitch HardySH 17Sam PayneN8 18Toutai KefuFL 19Brett RobinsonHK 20Marco CaputoPR 21Andrew HeathCoach: Greg Smith
Round 6
FB 15André JoubertRW 14James SmallOC 13Percy MontgomeryIC 12Henry HoniballLW 11André SnymanFH 10Jannie de BeerSH 9 Joost van der WesthuizenN8 8 Gary Teichmann (c)OF 7 Rassie ErasmusBF 6 Warren BrosnihanRL 5 Mark AndrewsLL 4 Hannes StrydomTP 3 Marius HurterHK 2 James DaltonLP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:WG 16Pieter RossouwSH 17Werner SwanepoelFL 18Schutte BekkerLK 19Braam ElsPR 20Dawie TheronHK 21Naka DrotskéCoach: Carel du Plessis FB 15Stephen LarkhamRW 14Ben TuneOC 13Jason LittleIC 12James Holbeck LW 11Joe RoffFH 10David KnoxSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Troy CokerOF 7 David Wilson (c)BF 6 Matt CockbainRL 5 John LangfordLL 4 Owen FineganTP 3 Andrew BladesHK 2 Michael FoleyLP 1 Richard HarryReplacements:WG 16Mitch HardySH 17Sam PayneN8 18Toutai KefuFL 19Brett RobinsonPR 20Andrew HeathHK 21Marco CaputoCoach: Greg Smith
External links 1997 Tri Nations Series at ESPN