2011 Tri Nations Series
# 2011 Tri Nations Series

The 2011 Tri Nations Series was the sixteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks. It was also the last series in which only these three teams participated. In 2012, Argentina's Pumas joined this competition, which was rebranded as The Rugby Championship. This made this series the last under the Tri Nations name until 2020, when South Africa withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand between 9 September and 23 October 2011. As a result, the 2011 Tri Nations was shortened to include only six games instead of the usual nine. Each team played the other two countries twice rather than three times. Australia won the series for the first time in ten years.

## Standings

| Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Bonus points | Bonus points | Table points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Place | Nation | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference | Tries | Losing | Table points |
| 1 | Australia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 92 | 79 | +13 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 95 | 64 | +31 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 98 | −44 | 0 | 1 | 5 |

## Fixtures

All times are local

### Australia vs South Africa, Sydney

* 23 July 2011 20:05 AEST (UTC+10)

| Australia | 39–20 | South Africa |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Alexander 9' c Ioane 11' m O'Connor 43' c Moore 46' c Ashley-Cooper 54' c Con: O'Connor (4/5) Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 37', 50' | Report | Try: Ralepelle 58' c Smit 75' c Con: Lambie (2/2) Pen: M. Steyn (2/2) 30', 40' |

* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 52,718 Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

| FB | 15 | Kurtley Beale | 70' |
| - | - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | James O'Connor |
| OC | 13 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | 63' |
| IC | 12 | Pat McCabe |
| LW | 11 | Digby Ioane |
| FH | 10 | Quade Cooper |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia | 64' |
| N8 | 8 | Ben McCalman |
| OF | 7 | David Pocock | 64' |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom (c) | 56' |
| RL | 5 | James Horwill | 56' |
| LL | 4 | Rob Simmons |
| TP | 3 | Ben Alexander |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore | 60' |
| LP | 1 | Sekope Kepu |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Saia Fainga'a | 60' |
| PR | 17 | Pekahou Cowan | 70' |
| LK | 18 | Nathan Sharpe | 56' |
| FL | 19 | Matt Hodgson | 64' |
| FL | 20 | Scott Higginbotham | 56' |
| SH | 21 | Nick Phipps | 64' |
| CE | 22 | Anthony Fainga'a | 63' |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||
| FB | 15 | Gio Aplon |
| RW | 14 | Bjorn Basson |
| OC | 13 | Juan de Jongh |
| IC | 12 | Wynand Olivier | 66' |
| LW | 11 | Lwazi Mvovo |
| FH | 10 | Morné Steyn | 56' |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Ashley Johnson | 51' |
| BF | 7 | Danie Rossouw |
| OF | 6 | Deon Stegmann |
| RL | 5 | Alistair Hargreaves |
| LL | 4 | Flip van der Merwe | | | | 33' |
| TP | 3 | Werner Kruger | | | | | 60' |
| HK | 2 | John Smit (c) |
| LP | 1 | Dean Greyling | 6' to 15' | 6' to 15' | 23' to 33' | 23' to 33' | 58' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | | | | | 58' |
| PR | 17 | CJ van der Linde | 6' | 15' | 23' | 33' | 60' |
| N8 | 18 | Ryan Kankowski | | | | 33' |
| SH | 19 | Charl McLeod |
| FL | 20 | Jean Deysel | 51' |
| CE | 21 | Adrian Jacobs | 66' |
| FH | 22 | Patrick Lambie | 56' |
| Coach: ||
| Peter de Villiers ||

Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand) Vinny Munro (New Zealand) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

### New Zealand vs South Africa, Wellington

* 30 July 2011 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

| New Zealand | 40–7 | South Africa |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Crockett 13' m Guildford 14' m, 64' m Jane 32' m, 45' c Slade 70' c Con: Carter (2/6) Pen: Carter (2/2) 2', 49' | Report | Try: Smit 29' c Con: M. Steyn (1/1) |

* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 28,895 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Cory Jane |
| OC | 13 | Conrad Smith | 53' |
| IC | 12 | Ma'a Nonu | 66' |
| LW | 11 | Zac Guildford |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Jimmy Cowan | 56' |
| N8 | 8 | Adam Thomson |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Jerome Kaino | 56' |
| RL | 5 | Ali Williams |
| LL | 4 | Sam Whitelock | 72' |
| TP | 3 | Ben Franks | 42' | 49' |
| HK | 2 | Andrew Hore | 72' |
| LP | 1 | Wyatt Crockett |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Corey Flynn | 72' |
| PR | 17 | John Afoa | 42' | 49' |
| LK | 18 | Jarrad Hoeata | 72' |
| N8 | 19 | Liam Messam | 56' |
| SH | 20 | Piri Weepu | 56' |
| FH | 21 | Colin Slade | 66' |
| CE | 22 | Sonny Bill Williams | 53' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||
| FB | 15 | Morné Steyn | 66' |
| RW | 14 | Bjorn Basson | 66' |
| OC | 13 | Adi Jacobs | 67' |
| IC | 12 | Juan de Jongh |
| LW | 11 | Lwazi Mvovo |
| FH | 10 | Patrick Lambie |
| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar |
| N8 | 8 | Danie Rossouw |
| OF | 7 | Jean Deysel | 48' |
| BF | 6 | Deon Stegmann |
| RL | 5 | Alistair Hargreaves |
| LL | 4 | Gerhard Mostert | 74' |
| TP | 3 | Werner Kruger | 47' |
| HK | 2 | John Smit (c) |
| LP | 1 | Dean Greyling | 47' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | 47' |
| PR | 17 | CJ van der Linde | 47' |
| N8 | 18 | Ryan Kankowski | 74' |
| N8 | 19 | Ashley Johnson | 48' |
| SH | 20 | Charl McLeod | 66' |
| CE | 21 | Wynand Olivier | 67' |
| WG | 22 | Odwa Ndungane | 66' |
| Coach: ||
| Peter de Villiers ||

Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) James Leckie (Australia) Television match official: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)

* Dan Carter reclaimed the career lead in Test points from Jonny Wilkinson of England with his first penalty, ending the evening with 1,204 career points.

### New Zealand vs Australia, Auckland

* 6 August 2011 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

| New Zealand | 30–14 | Australia |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Nonu 8' c Mealamu 27' c Sivivatu 54' c Con: Carter (3/3) Pen: Carter (2/2) 6', 68' Drop: Carter (1/1) 47' | Report | Try: Ioane 51' c Elsom 76' c Con: Cooper (2/2) |

* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 52,182 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Sitiveni Sivivatu | 56' |
| OC | 13 | Conrad Smith |
| IC | 12 | Ma'a Nonu | 69' |
| LW | 11 | Hosea Gear |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Piri Weepu | 60' |
| N8 | 8 | Kieran Read |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Jerome Kaino | 71' |
| RL | 5 | Ali Williams | 65' |
| LL | 4 | Brad Thorn |
| TP | 3 | Owen Franks |
| HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu | 60' |
| LP | 1 | Wyatt Crockett | 50' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Andrew Hore | 60' |
| PR | 17 | Ben Franks | 50' |
| LK | 18 | Sam Whitelock | 65' |
| FL | 19 | Adam Thomson | 71' |
| SH | 20 | Andy Ellis | 60' |
| FH | 21 | Colin Slade | 56' |
| CE | 22 | Sonny Bill Williams | 69' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||
| FB | 15 | Kurtley Beale |
| RW | 14 | James O'Connor |
| OC | 13 | Adam Ashley-Cooper |
| IC | 12 | Pat McCabe |
| LW | 11 | Digby Ioane |
| FH | 10 | Quade Cooper |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia |
| N8 | 8 | Ben McCalman | 56' |
| OF | 7 | David Pocock |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom (c) |
| RL | 5 | James Horwill |
| LL | 4 | Rob Simmons | 54' |
| TP | 3 | Ben Alexander |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore | 69' |
| LP | 1 | Sekope Kepu |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Saia Fainga'a | 69' |
| PR | 17 | Pekahou Cowan |
| LK | 18 | Dan Vickerman | 54' |
| FL | 19 | Scott Higginbotham | 56' |
| SH | 20 | Luke Burgess |
| CE | 21 | Anthony Fainga'a |
| WG | 22 | Lachie Turner |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||

Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Christie du Preez (South Africa) Television match official: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

### South Africa vs Australia, Durban

* 13 August 2011 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

| South Africa | 9–14 | Australia |
| - | - | - |
| Pen: F. Steyn (1/1) 3' James (2/3) 16', 58' | Report | Try: Pat McCabe 48' m Pen: O'Connor (3/4) 42', 66', 74' |

* Mr Price Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 47,850 Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

| FB | 15 | François Steyn | 51' |
| - | - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | JP Pietersen |
| OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie |
| IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers |
| LW | 11 | Bryan Habana | 59' | 70' |
| FH | 10 | Butch James | 68' |
| SH | 9 | Fourie du Preez |
| N8 | 8 | Pierre Spies |
| BF | 7 | Danie Rossouw |
| OF | 6 | Heinrich Brüssow | 51' |
| RL | 5 | Victor Matfield |
| LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha | 64' |
| TP | 3 | Jannie du Plessis | 51' | 78' |
| HK | 2 | John Smit (c) | | 78' |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 68' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Bismarck du Plessis | 51' |
| PR | 17 | Gurthrö Steenkamp | 68' |
| LK | 18 | Gerhard Mostert | 64' |
| FL | 19 | Jean Deysel | 51' |
| SH | 20 | Francois Hougaard | 59' | 70' |
| FH | 21 | Morné Steyn | 68' |
| WG | 22 | Gio Aplon | 51' |
| Coach: ||
| Peter de Villiers ||
| FB | 15 | Kurtley Beale |
| RW | 14 | James O'Connor |
| OC | 13 | Pat McCabe |
| IC | 12 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | 60' |
| LW | 11 | Digby Ioane |
| FH | 10 | Quade Cooper |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia |
| N8 | 8 | Scott Higginbotham | 60' |
| OF | 7 | David Pocock |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom (c) |
| RL | 5 | James Horwill |
| LL | 4 | Nathan Sharpe |
| TP | 3 | Ben Alexander |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore |
| LP | 1 | Sekope Kepu |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Saia Fainga'a |
| PR | 17 | Salesi Ma'afu |
| LK | 18 | Sitaleki Timani |
| N8 | 19 | Ben McCalman |
| N8 | 20 | Radike Samo | 60' |
| SH | 21 | Luke Burgess |
| CE | 22 | Anthony Fainga'a | 60' |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||

Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Carlo Damasco (Italy) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

* South Africa's starting XV had a total of 810 caps going into the match, an all-time record for the sport.

### South Africa vs New Zealand, Port Elizabeth

* 20 August 2011 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

| South Africa | 18–5 | New Zealand |
| - | - | - |
| Pen: M. Steyn (5/5) 8', 10', 18' 27', 60' Drop: M. Steyn (1/2) 32' | Report | Try: Kahui 35' m |

* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth* Attendance: 45,478 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

| FB | 15 | Patrick Lambie | 21' |
| - | - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | JP Pietersen |
| OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie |
| IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers |
| LW | 11 | Bryan Habana |
| FH | 10 | Morné Steyn |
| SH | 9 | Fourie du Preez |
| N8 | 8 | Pierre Spies |
| BF | 7 | Willem Alberts | | | 69' |
| OF | 6 | Heinrich Brüssow | 13' | 27' |
| RL | 5 | Victor Matfield (c) |
| LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha | 48' | 58' | 68' |
| TP | 3 | Jannie du Plessis | 70' |
| HK | 2 | Bismarck du Plessis | 61' |
| LP | 1 | Gurthrö Steenkamp | 42' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | John Smit | 61' |
| PR | 17 | Tendai Mtawarira | 42' |
| PR | 18 | CJ van der Linde | 70' |
| FL | 19 | Danie Rossouw | 48' | 58' | 68' |
| N8 | 20 | Ashley Johnson | 13' | 27' | 69' |
| SH | 21 | Francois Hougaard | 21' |
| FH | 22 | Butch James |
| Coach: ||
| Peter de Villiers ||
| FB | 15 | Israel Dagg |
| RW | 14 | Isaia Toeava |
| OC | 13 | Richard Kahui |
| IC | 12 | Sonny Bill Williams |
| LW | 11 | Hosea Gear | 73' |
| FH | 10 | Colin Slade | 62' |
| SH | 9 | Jimmy Cowan | 54' |
| N8 | 8 | Liam Messam | 71' |
| OF | 7 | Adam Thomson |
| BF | 6 | Jerome Kaino |
| RL | 5 | Ali Williams | 70' |
| LL | 4 | Sam Whitelock |
| TP | 3 | John Afoa | 51' | 61' |
| HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu (c) | 61' |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock | | 61' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Andrew Hore | 61' |
| PR | 17 | Ben Franks | 51' |
| LK | 18 | Jarrad Hoeata | 70' |
| FL | 19 | Victor Vito | 71' |
| SH | 20 | Andy Ellis | 54' |
| SH | 21 | Piri Weepu | 62' |
| WG | 22 | Cory Jane | 73' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||

Touch judges: Andrew Small (England) Carlo Damasco (Italy) Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

* This was the first time that a Tri Nations test was played in Port Elizabeth.

Source: Fox Sports AllBlacks.com

### Australia vs New Zealand, Brisbane

* 27 August 2011 20:05 AEST (UTC+10)

| Australia | 25–20 | New Zealand |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Genia 13' c Samo 33' c Beale 60' m Con: Cooper (2/3) 14', 34' Pen: Cooper (2/3) | Report | Try: Smith 52' c Nonu 58' c Con: Carter (2/2) 53', 59' Pen: Carter (2/2) 23', 46' |

* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 51,858 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

| FB | 15 | Kurtley Beale |
| - | - | - |
| RW | 14 | Adam Ashley-Cooper |
| OC | 13 | Pat McCabe |
| IC | 12 | Anthony Fainga'a |
| LW | 11 | Digby Ioane |
| FH | 10 | Quade Cooper |
| SH | 9 | Will Genia | 76' |
| N8 | 8 | Radike Samo | 61' |
| OF | 7 | David Pocock |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom | 72' |
| RL | 5 | James Horwill (c) |
| LL | 4 | Dan Vickerman | 54' |
| TP | 3 | Ben Alexander |
| HK | 2 | Stephen Moore | 76' |
| LP | 1 | Sekope Kepu | 76' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Saia Fainga'a | 76' |
| PR | 17 | Salesi Ma'afu | 76' |
| LK | 18 | Rob Simmons | 54' |
| N8 | 19 | Ben McCalman | 61' |
| FL | 20 | Scott Higginbotham | 72' |
| SH | 21 | Luke Burgess | 76' |
| CE | 22 | Rob Horne |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||
| FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina |
| RW | 14 | Cory Jane |
| OC | 13 | Conrad Smith |
| IC | 12 | Ma'a Nonu |
| LW | 11 | Zac Guildford | 54' |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Piri Weepu | 64' |
| N8 | 8 | Kieran Read | 13' |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Adam Thomson | 38' |
| RL | 5 | Sam Whitelock |
| LL | 4 | Brad Thorn |
| TP | 3 | Owen Franks | 75' |
| HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu | 75' |
| LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Andrew Hore | 75' |
| PR | 17 | John Afoa | 75' |
| LK | 18 | Ali Williams | 38' |
| FL | 19 | Victor Vito | 13' |
| SH | 20 | Andy Ellis | 64' |
| FH | 21 | Colin Slade |
| WG | 22 | Isaia Toeava | 54' |
| Coach: ||
| Graham Henry ||

Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Cobus Wessels (South Africa) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

## Player statistics

### Leading try scorers

Top try scorers :

| Rank | Name | Team | Tries |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | John Smit | South Africa | 2 |
| 1 | Cory Jane | New Zealand | 2 |
| 1 | Zac Guildford | New Zealand | 2 |
| 1 | Digby Ioane | Australia | 2 |
| 1 | Ma'a Nonu | New Zealand | 2 |

### Leading point scorers

Top point scorers :

| Rank | Name | Team | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Dan Carter | New Zealand | 35 |
| 2 | James O'Connor | Australia | 28 |
| 3 | Morné Steyn | South Africa | 26 |
| 4 | Quade Cooper | Australia | 14 |
| 5 | John Smit | South Africa | 10 |
| 5 | Zac Guildford | New Zealand | 10 |
| 5 | Cory Jane | New Zealand | 10 |
| 5 | Digby Ioane | Australia | 10 |
| 5 | Ma'a Nonu | New Zealand | 10 |
| 10 | Butch James | South Africa | 6 |
