2007 Tri Nations Series
# 2007 Tri Nations Series

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 Argentina 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 | 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 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 59 | +41 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | Australia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 80 | −4 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 103 | −37 | 1 | 5 |

## Results

All times are local.

### Week 1

* 16 June 2007 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

| South Africa | 22–19 | Australia |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Fourie 15' c Con: Montgomery (1/1) Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 45', 53' Drop: Steyn (2/2) 74', 77' | | Try: Giteau 31' c Con: Mortlock (1/1) Pen: Mortlock (4/4) 13', 29', 36', 44' |

* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 48,416 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

| FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Ashwin Willemse | 60' |
| OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie |
| IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers |
| LW | 11 | JP Pietersen |
| FH | 10 | Butch James |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Pierre Spies |
| OF | 7 | Juan Smith | 54' |
| BF | 6 | Schalk Burger |
| RL | 5 | Victor Matfield |
| LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha | 63' |
| TP | 3 | BJ Botha | 60' | 67' |
| HK | 2 | John Smit (c) | 10' |
| LP | 1 | Gurthro Steenkamp | | 67' |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Gary Botha | 10' |
| PR | 17 | CJ van der Linde | 60' |
| LK | 18 | Johann Muller | 63' |
| N8 | 19 | Danie Rossouw | 54' |
| SH | 20 | Michael Claassens |
| CE | 21 | Wynand Olivier |
| FB | 22 | François Steyn | 60' |
| Coach: ||
| Jake White ||
| FB | 15 | Julian Huxley |
| RW | 14 | Drew Mitchell |
| OC | 13 | Stirling Mortlock (c) | 79' |
| IC | 12 | Matt Giteau |
| LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Wycliff Palu | 79' |
| OF | 7 | George Smith | 57' |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom | 57' |
| RL | 5 | Daniel Vickerman |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Guy Shepherdson |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore | 63' |
| LP | 1 | Matt Dunning |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Adam Freier | 63' |
| PR | 17 | Al Baxter |
| LK | 18 | Mark Chisholm | 57' |
| FL | 19 | Stephen Hoiles | 79' |
| FL | 20 | Phil Waugh | 57' |
| CE | 21 | Adam Ashley-Cooper |
| WG | 22 | Mark Gerrard | 79' |
| Coach: ||
| John Connolly ||

### Week 2

* 23 June 2007 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

| South Africa | 21–26 | New Zealand |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Burger 40' c James 44' c Con: Montgomery (1/2) Pen: Montgomery (2/2) 5', 66' Pienaar (1/1) 19' | | Try: McCaw 69' c Rokocoko 71' c Con: Carter (2/2) Pen: Carter (3/3) 31', 38', 55' Drop: Mauger (1/1) 42' |

* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 51,861 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

| FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Ashwin Willemse | 65' |
| OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie |
| IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers |
| LW | 11 | JP Pietersen |
| FH | 10 | Butch James | 52' |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad | 52' |
| OF | 7 | Danie Rossouw |
| BF | 6 | Schalk Burger |
| RL | 5 | Victor Matfield (c) |
| LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha | 65' |
| TP | 3 | BJ Botha |
| HK | 2 | Gary Botha |
| LP | 1 | Os du Randt | 53' |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Bismarck du Plessis |
| PR | 17 | CJ van der Linde | 53' |
| LK | 18 | Johann Muller | 65' |
| N8 | 19 | Pedrie Wannenburg | 52' |
| SH | 20 | Michael Claassens |
| FH | 21 | Wynand Olivier | 65' |
| CE | 22 | François Steyn | 52' |
| Coach: ||
| Jake White ||
| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina | 70' |
| RW | 14 | Joe Rokocoko |
| OC | 13 | Isaia Toeava |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger | 66' |
| LW | 11 | Sitiveni Sivivatu |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Byron Kelleher | 70' |
| N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Jerry Collins |
| RL | 5 | Greg Rawlinson | 48' |
| LL | 4 | Troy Flavell |
| TP | 3 | Carl Hayman |
| HK | 2 | Anton Oliver | 51' |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Keven Mealamu | 51' |
| PR | 17 | Neemia Tialata |
| LK | 18 | Ross Filipo | 48' |
| FL | 19 | Chris Masoe |
| SH | 20 | Piri Weepu | 70' |
| CE | 21 | Luke McAlister | 66' |
| FB | 22 | Leon MacDonald | 70' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||

### Week 3

* 30 June 2007 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| Australia | 20–15 | New Zealand |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Ashley-Cooper 64' c Staniforth 71' c Con: Giteau (2/2) Pen: Mortlock (2) 14', 19' | | Try: Woodcock 3' c Gear 26' m Con: Carter (1/2) Pen: Carter 17' |

* Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 79,322 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

| FB | 15 | Julian Huxley |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Adam Ashley-Cooper |
| OC | 13 | Stirling Mortlock (c) |
| IC | 12 | Matt Giteau |
| LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan | 55' |
| N8 | 8 | Rocky Elsom | 70' |
| OF | 7 | George Smith | 70' |
| BF | 6 | Wycliff Palu | 40' |
| RL | 5 | Daniel Vickerman |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Guy Shepherdson |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore | 47' |
| LP | 1 | Matt Dunning | 77' |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Adam Freier | 47' |
| PR | 17 | Al Baxter | 77' |
| FL | 18 | Mark Chisholm | 70' |
| LK | 19 | Stephen Hoiles | 40' |
| FL | 20 | Phil Waugh | 70' |
| FH | 21 | Scott Staniforth | 55' |
| FB | 22 | Mark Gerrard |
| Coach: ||
| John Connolly ||
| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| RW | 14 | Rico Gear |
| OC | 13 | Luke McAlister |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko | | 75' |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Byron Kelleher | | 50' |
| N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo | | 74' |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Jerry Collins | | | 65' |
| RL | 5 | Troy Flavell | | 45' |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Carl Hayman | 61' to 71' |
| HK | 2 | Anton Oliver | | 45' |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock | | 45' | 65' |
| Substitutions: ||
| PR | 16 | Keven Mealamu | | 45' |
| PR | 17 | Neemia Tialata | | 45' |
| LK | 18 | Ross Filipo | | 45' |
| FL | 19 | Chris Masoe | | 74' |
| SH | 20 | Piri Weepu | | 50' |
| FH | 21 | Nick Evans |
| WG | 22 | Sitiveni Sivivatu | | 75' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||

### Week 4

* 7 July 2007 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| Australia | 25–17 | South Africa |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Gerrard 22' c Hoiles 42' c Giteau 55' m Con: Mortlock (2/3) Pen: Mortlock (2/2) | | Try: van Heerden 6' c Paulse 8' c Con: Hougaard (2/2) Pen: Hougaard 16' (1/1) |

* Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 51,174 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

| FB | 15 | Julian Huxley |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Mark Gerrard |
| OC | 13 | Stirling Mortlock (c) |
| IC | 12 | Matt Giteau | 78' |
| LW | 11 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | 78' |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Stephen Hoiles | 64' |
| OF | 7 | George Smith | 71' |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom | 60' |
| RL | 5 | Daniel Vickerman |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Guy Shepherdson | 58' |
| HK | 2 | Adam Freier | 20' | 34' | 64' |
| LP | 1 | Matt Dunning | 73' |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Sean Hardman | 20' | 34' | 64' |
| PR | 17 | Al Baxter | 58' |
| LK | 18 | Hugh McMeniman | 60' |
| FL | 19 | David Lyons | 64' |
| FL | 20 | Phil Waugh | 71' |
| FH | 21 | Scott Staniforth | 78' |
| FB | 22 | Drew Mitchell | 78' |
| Coach: ||
| John Connolly ||
| FB | 15 | Bevin Fortuin | | 73' |
| RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse |
| OC | 13 | Waylon Murray |
| IC | 12 | Wynand Olivier |
| LW | 11 | JP Pietersen |
| FH | 10 | Derick Hougaard | | 73' |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Bobby Skinstad (c) | | | | 62' |
| OF | 7 | Pedrie Wannenburg | | 49' |
| BF | 6 | Wikus van Heerden |
| RL | 5 | Johann Muller |
| LL | 4 | Johan Ackerman | | 29' |
| TP | 3 | Jannie du Plessis | | 73' |
| HK | 2 | Gary Botha | 58' to 68' |
| LP | 1 | CJ van der Linde |
| Substitutions: ||
| PR | 16 | Bismarck du Plessis | | | 58' |
| PR | 17 | Eddie Andrews | | 73' |
| LK | 18 | Albert van den Berg | | 29' |
| FL | 19 | Jacques Cronjé | | 49' | 58' | 62' |
| SH | 20 | Michael Claassens | | 73' |
| FH | 21 | Peter Grant | | 73' |
| CE | 22 | Jaco Pretorius |
| Coach: ||
| Jack White ||

### Week 5

* 14 July 2007 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

| New Zealand | 33–6 | South Africa |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Leonard 69' c Evans 76' c Carter 80' c Con: Carter (3) Pen: Carter (4) | | Pen: Hougaard (2) |

* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 33,708 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett | 74' |
| OC | 13 | Isaia Toeava | 78' |
| IC | 12 | Luke McAlister |
| LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Piri Weepu | 54' |
| N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo | 74' |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne |
| RL | 5 | Keith Robinson | 64' |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Carl Hayman | 78' |
| HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu | 74' |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Andrew Hore | 74' |
| PR | 17 | Neemia Tialata | 78' |
| FL | 18 | Jerry Collins | 64' |
| FL | 19 | Chris Masoe | 74' |
| SH | 20 | Brendon Leonard | 54' |
| CE | 21 | Conrad Smith | 78' |
| FH | 22 | Nick Evans | 74' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||
| FB | 15 | JP Pietersen |
| RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse | | 78' |
| OC | 13 | Waylon Murray |
| IC | 12 | Wynand Olivier |
| LW | 11 | Jaco Pretorius | | 74' |
| FH | 10 | Derick Hougaard | | 57' |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Jacques Cronjé |
| OF | 7 | Pedrie Wannenburg | 53' to 63' | 78' |
| BF | 6 | Wikus van Heerden |
| RL | 5 | Johann Muller (c) |
| LL | 4 | Albert van den Berg | | 68' |
| TP | 3 | Jannie du Plessis |
| HK | 2 | Bismarck du Plessis | | 68' |
| LP | 1 | CJ van der Linde | | 78' |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Gary Botha | | 68' |
| PR | 17 | Eddie Andrews | | 78' |
| LK | 18 | Gerrie Britz | | 68' |
| FL | 19 | Hilton Lobberts | | 78' |
| SH | 20 | Michael Claassens | | 78' |
| FH | 21 | Peter Grant | | 57' |
| WG | 22 | Tonderai Chavhanga | | 74' |
| Coach: ||
| Jake White ||

### Week 6

* 21 July 2007 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

| New Zealand | 26–12 | Australia |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Woodcock 58' m Pen: Carter (7) 10', 29', 36', 39', 44', 51', 73' | | Pen: Mortlock (3) 24', 33', 47' Drop: Giteau 25' |

* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Doug Howlett |
| OC | 13 | Isaia Toeava |
| IC | 12 | Luke McAlister |
| LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Byron Kelleher |
| N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Jerry Collins |
| RL | 5 | Chris Jack |
| LL | 4 | Keith Robinson |
| TP | 3 | Carl Hayman |
| HK | 2 | Anton Oliver |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Keven Mealamu |
| PR | 17 | Neemia Tialata |
| LK | 18 | Reuben Thorne |
| FL | 19 | Chris Masoe |
| SH | 20 | Brendon Leonard |
| CE | 21 | Aaron Mauger |
| FH | 22 | Nick Evans |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||
| FB | 15 | Adam Ashley-Cooper |
| RW | 14 | Mark Gerrard |
| OC | 13 | Stirling Mortlock (c) |
| IC | 12 | Matt Giteau |
| LW | 11 | Drew Mitchell |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan |
| N8 | 8 | Stephen Hoiles |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom |
| RL | 5 | Daniel Vickerman |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Guy Shepherdson |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore |
| LP | 1 | Matt Dunning |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Adam Freier |
| PR | 17 | Al Baxter |
| FL | 18 | Hugh McMeniman |
| LK | 19 | Mark Chisholm |
| FL | 20 | Phil Waugh |
| CE | 21 | Scott Staniforth |
| FB | 22 | Chris Latham |
| Coach: ||
| John Connolly ||
