2005 Tri Nations Series

For similarly named rugby league football tournament, see 2005 Rugby League Tri Nations.

Rugby union tournament

2005 Tri Nations SeriesFinal positions

Champions|  New Zealand (6th title)
Bledisloe Cup|  New Zealand
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 6
Tries scored| 26 (4.33 per match)
Attendance| 303,056 (50,509 per match)
Top scorer(s)|  Percy Montgomery (52)
Most tries|  Bryan Habana (3)
Doug Howlett (3)
Joe Rokocoko (3)

← 2004

2006 →

The 2005 Tri Nations Series, an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, was the tenth in the series. The competition is organised by SANZAR, a consortium of the three countries' rugby federations. This was the last year in which the Tri Nations was contested in its original double round-robin format, with each team playing the others twice.

New Zealand claimed the title with a 31–27 win over South Africa in the penultimate week of the competition; New Zealand's final opponents, Australia, were already unable to catch them and the result put New Zealand above South Africa with the Springboks having played all their matches. The All Blacks also retained the Bledisloe Cup with victory over Australia in both fixtures. The Mandela Challenge Plate between Australia and South Africa was contested outside the Tri Nations.

## Synopsis

[edit]

Final game of the 2005 Tri Nations Series, All Blacks vs Wallabies, Eden Park

The All Blacks were clear favourites going in, having come off a sweep of the British & Irish Lions. The Springboks entered with many questions, most dealing with the player selections made by coach Jake White. Many in South Africa questioned White's selections after a loss to Australia in the first leg of the Mandela Plate. However, the Springboks won the second leg to retain the Mandela Plate. The Wallabies entered with promise, but had been hurt by the loss of talismanic fly-half Stephen Larkham to a shoulder injury before the series.

The series began with the South Africa leg. In the opener, the Springboks came from behind to defeat the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld. The 22–16 margin gave the Wallabies the consolation of a bonus point. The following week at Newlands, the Boks handed the All Blacks what would prove to be their only loss in 2005 by the identical score.

When the series moved to Australia, the All Blacks ensured themselves of retaining the Bledisloe Cup by a comprehensive 30–13 win over the Wallabies. However, they failed to earn a bonus point. The Springboks kept pace with the All Blacks by nipping Australia the following week 22–19.

The series decider proved to be the first match of the New Zealand leg, pitting the All Blacks and Springboks. In a closely fought match, a late try by Keven Mealamu gave the All Blacks both the win and a key bonus point. They would secure the trophy the next week with a bonus-point win over the Wallabies.

## The aftermath

[edit]

### New Zealand

[edit]

The All Blacks emerged from the Tri Nations as clearly the best team in the world in 2005. They had enough depth to shrug off what would have been a devastating loss to most other national teams—an injury to arguably their best player, fly-half Dan Carter during the win in Sydney, that kept him out of the tests at home against the Springboks and the Wallabies. The All Blacks would punctuate their season with a "Grand Slam" over all four Home Nations on their November tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Carter would come back for the Grand Slam tour, and was selected as 2005 World Player of the Year by the International Rugby Board.

### South Africa

[edit]

As for the Springboks, they showed themselves to be a close second to the All Blacks, silencing White's critics in the process. For the second straight year, the Tri Nations was the international coming-out party for a young Springboks star. In 2004, Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Marius Joubert emerged as major stars, with Burger going on to be named the IRB World Player of the Year. This year, Bryan Habana established himself as one of the world's most dangerous wings, and was named a finalist for World Player of the Year.

### Australia

[edit]

The Wallabies fought bravely throughout the series, but were ultimately outmanned. The competition exposed major weaknesses in their front row. They would spiral downward to their longest Test losing streak since 1969, which would cost head coach Eddie Jones his job.

## Format

[edit]

As in past competitions, points were earned on the following schedule:

* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 0 points for a loss
* 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more, win or lose
* 1 bonus point for a loss by 7 points or less

## Table

[edit]

Nation  | Games  | Points  | Bonus
points  | Table
points

|
|
|
|

Played  | Won  | Drawn  | Lost  | For  | Against  | Difference
New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 86 | +25 | 3 | 15
South Africa | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 82 | +11 | 1 | 13
Australia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 108 | −36 | 3 | 3

## Results

[edit]

### Round 1

[edit]

30 July 2005
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa | 22–16|  Australia (1 BP)

|
|

Try: Paulse
Con: Montgomery
Pen: Montgomery (3)
Drop: Montgomery
Pretorius| | Try: Smith
Con: Giteau
Pen: Giteau (3)
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria[1]
Attendance: 53,056[2]
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery
RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse
OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie
IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers
LW | 11 | Bryan Habana
FH | 10 | André Pretorius
SH | 9 | Fourie du Preez
N8 | 8 | Jacques Cronjé
BF | 7 | Juan Smith
OF | 6 | Joe van Niekerk
RL | 5 | Victor Matfield
LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha
TP | 3 | CJ van der Linde
HK | 2 | John Smit (c)
LP | 1 | Gurthrö Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Gary Botha
PR | 17 | Lawrence Sephaka
LK | 18 | Albert van den Berg
FL | 19 | Schalk Burger
SH | 20 | Ricky Januarie
CE | 21 | Wayne Julies
FB | 22 | Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Coach:
Jake White
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Chris Latham
RW | 14 | Wendell Sailor
OC | 13 | Morgan Turinui
IC | 12 | Matt Giteau
LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri
FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham
SH | 9 | George Gregan (c)
N8 | 8 | David Lyons
OF | 7 | George Smith
BF | 6 | John Roe
RL | 5 | Nathan Sharpe
LL | 4 | Daniel Vickerman
TP | 3 | Matt Dunning
HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul
LP | 1 | Bill Young
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Stephen Moore
PR | 17 | Al Baxter
LK | 18 | Mark Chisholm
FL | 19 | Phil Waugh
SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker
CE | 21 | Stirling Mortlock
FB | 22 | Drew Mitchell
Coach:
Eddie Jones

* * *

### Round 2

[edit]

6 August 2005
15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa | 22–16|  New Zealand (1 BP)

|
|

Try: De Villiers
Con: Montgomery
Pen: Montgomery (4)
Drop: Pretorius| | Try: Gear
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter (3)
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town[3]
Attendance: 49,118
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery
RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse
OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie
IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers
LW | 11 | Bryan Habana
FH | 10 | André Pretorius
SH | 9 | Ricky Januarie
N8 | 8 | Joe van Niekerk
BF | 7 | Juan Smith
OF | 6 | Schalk Burger
RL | 5 | Victor Matfield
LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha
TP | 3 | CJ van der Linde
HK | 2 | John Smit (c)
LP | 1 | Os du Randt
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Hanyani Shimange
PR | 17 | Gurthrö Steenkamp
LK | 18 | Albert van den Berg
N8 | 19 | Jacques Cronjé
SH | 20 | Fourie du Preez
CE | 21 | Wayne Julies
FB | 22 | Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Coach:
Jake White
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Leon MacDonald
RW | 14 | Rico Gear
OC | 13 | Tana Umaga (c)
IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger
LW | 11 | Mils Muliaina
FH | 10 | Dan Carter
SH | 9 | Byron Kelleher
N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo
OF | 7 | Richie McCaw
BF | 6 | Jerry Collins
RL | 5 | Ali Williams
LL | 4 | Chris Jack
TP | 3 | Carl Hayman
HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu
LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Derren Witcombe
PR | 17 | Greg Somerville
LK | 18 | James Ryan
FL | 19 | Marty Holah
SH | 20 | Piri Weepu
FH | 21 | Luke McAlister
WG | 22 | Joe Rokocoko
Coach:
Graham Henry

* * *

### Round 3

[edit]

13 August 2005
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia | 13–30|  New Zealand

|
|

Try: Mitchell
Con: Giteau
Pen: Giteau (2)| | Try: McCaw
Rokocoko
Weepu
Con: Carter (2)
McAlister
Pen: Carter (3)
Stadium Australia, Sydney[4]
Attendance: 83,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Drew Mitchell
RW | 14 | Mark Gerrard
OC | 13 | Stirling Mortlock
IC | 12 | Morgan Turinui
LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri
FH | 10 | Matt Giteau
SH | 9 | George Gregan (c)
N8 | 8 | David Lyons
OF | 7 | George Smith
BF | 6 | John Roe
RL | 5 | Nathan Sharpe
LL | 4 | Daniel Vickerman
TP | 3 | Al Baxter
HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul
LP | 1 | Bill Young
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Brendan Cannon
PR | 17 | Matt Dunning
LK | 18 | Mark Chisholm
FL | 19 | Phil Waugh
SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker
FH | 21 | Elton Flatley
CE | 22 | Clyde Rathbone
Coach:
Eddie Jones
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina
RW | 14 | Rico Gear
OC | 13 | Tana Umaga (c)
IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger
LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko
FH | 10 | Dan Carter
SH | 9 | Piri Weepu
N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo
OF | 7 | Richie McCaw
BF | 6 | Jerry Collins
RL | 5 | Ali Williams
LL | 4 | Chris Jack
TP | 3 | Carl Hayman
HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu
LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Derren Witcombe
PR | 17 | Greg Somerville
LK | 18 | James Ryan
FL | 19 | Marty Holah
SH | 20 | Kevin Senio
FH | 21 | Luke McAlister
FB | 22 | Leon MacDonald
Coach:
Graham Henry

* * *

### Round 4

[edit]

20 August 2005
18:00 AWST (UTC+08)

(1 BP) Australia | 19–22|  South Africa

|
|

Try: Rathbone
Con: Rogers
Pen: Rogers (3)
Giteau| | Try: Habana (2)
Pen: Montgomery (3)
Drop: Montgomery
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 43,278
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Drew Mitchell
RW | 14 | Mat Rogers
OC | 13 | Clyde Rathbone
IC | 12 | Morgan Turinui
LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri
FH | 10 | Matt Giteau
SH | 9 | George Gregan (c)
N8 | 8 | David Lyons
OF | 7 | Phil Waugh
BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom
RL | 5 | Nathan Sharpe
LL | 4 | Daniel Vickerman
TP | 3 | Al Baxter
HK | 2 | Brendan Cannon
LP | 1 | Bill Young
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Stephen Moore
PR | 17 | Matt Dunning
LK | 18 | Mark Chisholm
N8 | 19 | John Roe
FL | 20 | George Smith
SH | 21 | Chris Whitaker
WG | 22 | Adam Ashley-Cooper
Coach:
Eddie Jones
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery
RW | 14 | Breyton Paulse
OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie
IC | 12 | Jean de Villiers
LW | 11 | Bryan Habana
FH | 10 | André Pretorius
SH | 9 | Ricky Januarie
N8 | 8 | Joe van Niekerk
BF | 7 | Juan Smith
OF | 6 | Schalk Burger
RL | 5 | Victor Matfield
LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha
TP | 3 | CJ van der Linde
HK | 2 | John Smit (c)
LP | 1 | Os du Randt
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Hanyani Shimange
PR | 17 | Gurthrö Steenkamp
LK | 18 | Albert van den Berg
N8 | 19 | Jacques Cronjé
SH | 20 | Fourie du Preez
CE | 21 | Wayne Julies
FB | 22 | Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Coach:
Jake White

* * *

### Round 5

[edit]

27 August 2005
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

(1 BP) New Zealand | 31–27|  South Africa (1 BP)

|
|

Try: MacDonald
Mealamu
Rokocoko (2)
Con: MacDonald (3)
McAlister
Pen: Leon MacDonald| | Try: Fourie
Habana
Januarie
Con: Montgomery (3)
Pen: Montgomery (2)
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina
RW | 14 | Rico Gear
OC | 13 | Tana Umaga (c)
IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger
LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko
FH | 10 | Leon MacDonald
SH | 9 | Piri Weepu
N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo
OF | 7 | Richie McCaw
BF | 6 | Jerry Collins
RL | 5 | Ali Williams
LL | 4 | Chris Jack
TP | 3 | Carl Hayman
HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu
LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Derren Witcombe
PR | 17 | Greg Somerville
LK | 18 | James Ryan
FL | 19 | Sione Lauaki
SH | 20 | Kevin Senio
FH | 21 | Luke McAlister
FB | 22 | Doug Howlett
Coach:
Graham Henry
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery
RW | 14 | Jean de Villiers
OC | 13 | Jaque Fourie
IC | 12 | De Wet Barry
LW | 11 | Bryan Habana
FH | 10 | André Pretorius
SH | 9 | Ricky Januarie
N8 | 8 | Joe van Niekerk
BF | 7 | Juan Smith
OF | 6 | Schalk Burger
RL | 5 | Victor Matfield
LL | 4 | Bakkies Botha
TP | 3 | CJ van der Linde
HK | 2 | John Smit (c)
LP | 1 | Os du Randt
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Hanyani Shimange
PR | 17 | Eddie Andrews
LK | 18 | Albert van den Berg
N8 | 19 | Jacques Cronjé
SH | 20 | Fourie du Preez
FB | 21 | Jaco van der Westhuyzen
CE | 22 | Marius Joubert
Coach:
Jake White

* * *

### Round 6

[edit]

3 September 2005
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

(1 BP) New Zealand | 34–24|  Australia (1 BP)

|
|

Try: Howlett (3)
McCaw
Con: MacDonald
Pen: MacDonald
McAlister (3)| | Try: Chisholm
Gerrard
Johansson
Tuqiri
Con: Rogers (2)
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Chris White (England)

|  |

|

FB | 15 | Mils Muliaina
RW | 14 | Doug Howlett
OC | 13 | Tana Umaga (c)
IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger
LW | 11 | Joe Rokocoko
FH | 10 | Leon MacDonald
SH | 9 | Piri Weepu
N8 | 8 | Rodney So'oialo
OF | 7 | Richie McCaw
BF | 6 | Sione Lauaki
RL | 5 | Ali Williams
LL | 4 | Chris Jack
TP | 3 | Carl Hayman
HK | 2 | Keven Mealamu
LP | 1 | Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Derren Witcombe
PR | 17 | Greg Somerville
LK | 18 | James Ryan
FL | 19 | Marty Holah
SH | 20 | Kevin Senio
FH | 21 | Luke McAlister
CE | 22 | Conrad Smith
Coach:
Graham Henry
|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Drew Mitchell
RW | 14 | Mark Gerrard
OC | 13 | Clyde Rathbone
IC | 12 | Morgan Turinui
LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri
FH | 10 | Mat Rogers
SH | 9 | George Gregan (c)
N8 | 8 | George Smith
OF | 7 | Phil Waugh
BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom
RL | 5 | Nathan Sharpe
LL | 4 | Mark Chisholm
TP | 3 | Al Baxter
HK | 2 | Brendan Cannon
LP | 1 | Bill Young
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Adam Freier
PR | 17 | Matt Dunning
LK | 18 | Al Kanaar
N8 | 19 | John Roe
SH | 20 | Chris Whitaker
FH | 21 | Lachlan MacKay
CE | 22 | Lloyd Johansson
Coach:
Eddie Jones

* * *

## Statistical leaders

[edit]

* Leading try scorers:
* Bryan Habana (SA), Doug Howlett (NZ), Joe Rokocoko (NZ) – 3 each
* Leading point scorer:
* Percy Montgomery (SA) – 52

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 22–16 Australia". South African Rugby Union. 30 July 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
2. ^ Using average from Ten years of Tri Nations Archived 13 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "397th All Black Test : 1118th All Black Game". AllBlacks.com. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
4. ^ "398th All Black Test : 1119th All Black Game". AllBlacks.com. Retrieved 20 August 2006.

## External links

[edit]

* Tri Nations at Rugby.com.au

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