1997 Tri Nations Series

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.

1997 Tri Nations Series

Final positions
Champions	New Zealand (2nd title)
Bledisloe Cup	New Zealand
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Tries scored	48 (8 per match)
Attendance	327,356 (54,559 per match)
← 1996 1998 →

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			Try bonus	Losing bonus	Table points
		Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff
1	New Zealand	4	4	0	0	159	109	+50	2	0	18
2	South Africa	4	1	0	3	148	144	–4	2	1	7
3	Australia	4	1	0	3	96	150	–54	2	0	6

Results

South Africa v New Zealand

19 July 1997 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

(1 BP) South Africa	32–35	New Zealand (1 BP)
Try: Bennett Drotské Con: De Beer (2) Pen: De Beer (4) Drop: De Beer (2)		Try: Bunce (2) Spencer Wilson Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (3)

Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

FB 15 Russell Bennett RW 14 André Snyman OC 13 Percy Montgomery IC 12 Danie van Schalkwyk LW 11 Pieter Rossouw FH 10 Jannie de Beer SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann (c) OF 7 André Venter BF 6 Ruben Kruger RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Krynauw Otto TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 Naka Drotské LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: FB 16 James Small CE 17 Henry Honiball SH 18 Werner Swanepoel LK 19 Fritz van Heerden PR 20 Dawie Theron HK 21 Chris Rossouw Coach: Carel du Plessis

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Lee Stensness LW 11 Tana Umaga FH 10 Carlos Spencer SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Taine Randell RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: CE 16 Alama Ieremia FH 17 Andrew Mehrtens SH 18 Ofisa Tonu'u LK 19 Charles Riechelmann PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

Australia v New Zealand

26 July 1997 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	18–33	New Zealand
Try: Gregan Little Con: Burke Pen: Burke (2)		Try: Bunce Cullen Wilson Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (4)

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 90,119 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 Ben Tune OC 13 Jason Little IC 12 James Holbeck LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Tim Horan SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Michael Brial OF 7 Brett Robinson BF 6 Daniel Manu RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 Garrick Morgan TP 3 Andrew Heath HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements: FH 17 Stephen Larkham SH 19 Sam Payne N8 16 Troy Coker FL 18 David Wilson PR 20 Andrew Blades HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Alama Ieremia LW 11 Glen Osborne FH 10 Carlos Spencer SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Taine Randell RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: FB 16 Adrian Cashmore FH 17 Andrew Mehrtens SH 18 Ofisa Tonu'u LK 19 Charles Riechelmann PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

Australia v South Africa

2 August 1997 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

(1 BP) Australia	32–20	South Africa
Try: Tune (2) Larkham Manu Con: Knox (3) Pen: Knox (2)		Try: Andrews De Beer Du Randt Con: De Beer Pen: De Beer

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 36,000 Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

FB 15 Stephen Larkham RW 14 Ben Tune OC 13 Jason Little IC 12 James Holbeck LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 David Knox SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Daniel Manu OF 7 David Wilson BF 6 Matt Cockbain RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 Owen Finegan TP 3 Andrew Heath HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements: FH 16 Elton Flatley SH 17 Sam Payne N8 18 Troy Coker FL 19 Brett Robinson PR 20 Andrew Blades HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

FB 15 Russell Bennett RW 14 André Snyman OC 13 Percy Montgomery IC 12 Danie van Schalkwyk LW 11 Pieter Rossouw FH 10 Jannie de Beer SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann (c) OF 7 André Venter BF 6 Ruben Kruger RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Krynauw Otto TP 3 Dawie Theron HK 2 Naka Drotské LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: WG 16 James Small FH 17 Henry Honiball SH 18 Werner Swanepoel LK 19 Fritz van Heerden PR 20 Adrian Garvey HK 21 James Dalton Coach: Carel du Plessis

New Zealand v South Africa

9 August 1997 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

(1 BP) New Zealand	55–35	South Africa (1 BP)
Try: Cullen (2) Ieremia Marshall Randell Spencer Umaga Con: Spencer (4) Pen: Spencer (4)		Try: Kruger Montgomery Rossouw Teichmann Van der Westhuizen Con: De Beer (3) Honiball (2)

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 48,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Alama Ieremia LW 11 Tana Umaga FH 10 Carlos Spencer SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Taine Randell RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: CE 16 Scott McLeod FH 17 Andrew Mehrtens SH 18 Ofisa Tonu'u LK 19 Charles Riechelmann PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

FB 15 Russell Bennett RW 14 James Small OC 13 Percy Montgomery IC 12 Henry Honiball LW 11 André Snyman FH 10 Jannie de Beer SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann (c) OF 7 André Venter BF 6 Ruben Kruger RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Krynauw Otto TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 James Dalton LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: WG 16 Pieter Rossouw CE 17 Joe Gillingham SH 18 Werner Swanepoel LK 19 Fritz van Heerden PR 20 Dawie Theron HK 21 Naka Drotské Coach: Carel du Plessis

New Zealand v Australia

16 August 1997 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

New Zealand	36–24	Australia (1 BP)
Try: Cullen Marshall Randell Con: Spencer (3) Pen: Spencer (5)		Try: Larkham (2) Roff Tune Con: Knox (2)

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 42,500 Referee: Joël Dumé (France)

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Alama Ieremia LW 11 Glen Osborne FH 10 Carlos Spencer SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Taine Randell RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: CE 16 Scott McLeod FH 17 Andrew Mehrtens SH 18 Ofisa Tonu'u LK 19 Charles Riechelmann PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Anton Oliver Coach: John Hart

FB 15 Stephen Larkham RW 14 Ben Tune OC 13 Jason Little IC 12 James Holbeck LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 David Knox SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Troy Coker OF 7 David Wilson (c) BF 6 Fili Finau RL 5 John Langford LL 4 Owen Finegan TP 3 Andrew Blades HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements: WG 16 Mitch Hardy SH 17 Sam Payne N8 18 Toutai Kefu FL 19 Brett Robinson HK 20 Marco Caputo PR 21 Andrew Heath Coach: Greg Smith

South Africa v Australia

23 August 1997 15:00 SAST (UTC+2)

(1 BP) South Africa	61–22	Australia
Try: Montgomery (2) Andrews Brosnihan Dalton De Beer Erasmus Rossouw Con: De Beer (6) Pen: De Beer (3)		Try: Knox Little Roff Con: Knox (2) Pen: Knox

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

FB 15 André Joubert RW 14 James Small OC 13 Percy Montgomery IC 12 Henry Honiball LW 11 André Snyman FH 10 Jannie de Beer SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann (c) OF 7 Rassie Erasmus BF 6 Warren Brosnihan RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Hannes Strydom TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 James Dalton LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: WG 16 Pieter Rossouw SH 17 Werner Swanepoel FL 18 Schutte Bekker LK 19 Braam Els PR 20 Dawie Theron HK 21 Naka Drotské Coach: Carel du Plessis

FB 15 Stephen Larkham RW 14 Ben Tune OC 13 Jason Little IC 12 James Holbeck LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 David Knox SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Troy Coker OF 7 David Wilson (c) BF 6 Matt Cockbain RL 5 John Langford LL 4 Owen Finegan TP 3 Andrew Blades HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Richard Harry Replacements: WG 16 Mitch Hardy SH 17 Sam Payne N8 18 Toutai Kefu FL 19 Brett Robinson PR 20 Andrew Heath HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

External links

• 1997 Tri Nations Series at ESPN