List of international rugby union tries by Christian Cullen

Christian Cullen is a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the New Zealand national rugby union team either as a fullback or a wing at international level from 1996 to 2002. He represented New Zealand in 58 test matches and scored 46 tries for his country.[a][1] Cullen's try total places him ninth on the all-time list and he is the second highest try scorer for New Zealand behind Doug Howlett (49).[2] He holds the record for the highest number of international tries scored in the fullback playing position in history.[3]

Cullen made his international debut for New Zealand in a 51–10 victory over Samoa at McLean Park in Napier on 7 June 1996,[4] scoring his first three international tries in the same match.[5][6] He went on to score a further four tries in a 62–31 win against Scotland the following week.[7] Cullen went on to score more tries in the Tri Nations Series in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and New Zealand's tour of Britain and Ireland in 1997.[5][6] His final three tries came in a test match on 29 June 2002 with Fiji at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, where he overtook Jeff Wilson's total of 44 to become the player with the highest number of tries scored for New Zealand.[8] Cullen remained New Zealand's leading try-scorer until Howlett overtook Cullen's total in September 2007.[9]

Of Cullen's 46 international tries, 27 were scored in test matches, 16 in the Tri Nations Series and 3 in New Zealand's 1997 tour of Britain and Ireland. He scored more against South Africa more than any other team, with ten tries, followed by Australia whom he scored eight tries against. Cullen scored multiple tries in a single international match on 13 occasions, including four hat-tricks. The first of these was a three-try effort against Samoa on his 1996 international debut. The second hat-trick was against Scotland in his second international game held the following week. The third was against Wales in New Zealand's 1997 Britain and Ireland tour and the last was over Fiji in a 2002 test match. Cullen scored tries against 11 countries, including eight of the eleven "Tier 1" countries and three "Tier 2" nations.[5][6]

  • Won denotes that the match was won by New Zealand.
  • Lost denotes that the match was lost by New Zealand.
  • Draw denotes that the match was drawn.

International tries

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Scores and results list New Zealand's tally first.[1][5][6]

International rugby union tries by Christian Cullen
Try Opponent Venue Competition Date Result Score Refs.
1   Samoa McLean Park, Napier Test match 7 June 1996 Won 51–10 [4]
2
3
4   Scotland Carisbrook, Dunedin 15 June 1996 Won 62–31 [10][7]
5
6
7
8   Australia Athletic Park, Wellington 1996 Tri Nations Series 6 July 1996 Won 43–6 [11]
9   South Africa ABSA Stadium, Durban Test match 17 August 1996 Won 23–19 [12]
10   Fiji North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City 14 June 1997 Won 71–5 [13]
11
12   Argentina Athletic Park, Wellington 21 June 1997 Won 93–8 [14][15]
13
14   Argentina Rugby Park, Hamilton 28 June 1997 Won 62–10 [16]
15   Australia Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne 1997 Tri Nations Series 26 July 1997 Won 33–18 [17]
16   South Africa Eden Park, Auckland 9 August 1997 Won 55–35 [18]
17
18   Australia Carisbrook, Dunedin 16 August 1997 Won 36–24 [19]
19   Wales Wembley Stadium, London 1997 New Zealand tour of Britain and Ireland 29 November 1997 Won 42–7 [20]
20
21
22   England Carisbrook, Dunedin Test match 20 June 1998 Won 64–22 [21]
23
24   Australia Lancaster Park, Christchurch 1998 Tri Nations Series 1 August 1998 Lost 23–27 [22]
25   Australia Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Test match 29 August 1998 Lost 14–19 [23]
26   France Athletic Park, Wellington 26 June 1999 Won 54–7 [24]
27
28   South Africa Carisbrook, Dunedin 1999 Tri Nations Series 10 July 1999 Won 28–0 [25]
29   South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 7 August 1999 Won 34–18 [26]
30
31   Italy Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield Test match 14 October 1999 Won 101–3 [27]
32   Tonga North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City 16 June 2000 Won 102–0 [28]
33   Scotland Carisbrook, Dunedin 24 June 2000 Won 69–20 [29]
34   Scotland Eden Park, Auckland 1 July 2000 Won 48–14 [30]
35   Australia Stadium Australia. Sydney 2000 Tri Nations Series 15 July 2000 Won 39–35 [31]
36   South Africa Jade Stadium, Christchurch 22 July 2000 Won 25–12 [32]
37
38   Australia Westpac Stadium, Wellington 5 August 2000 Lost 23–24 [33]
39
40   South Africa Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 19 August 2000 Lost 40–46 [34]
41
42   France Stade de France, Paris Test match 11 November 2000 Won 39–26 [35]
43   Italy Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 8 June 2002 Won 64–10 [36]
44   Fiji Westpac Stadium, Wellington Test match 29 June 2002 Won 68–18 [8]
45   Fiji Westpac Stadium, Wellington Test match 29 June 2002 Won 68–18 [8]
46   Fiji Westpac Stadium, Wellington Test match 29 June 2002 Won 68–18 [8]

Hat-tricks

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International hat-tricks by Christian Cullen
No. Opponent Venue Competition Date Result Score Ref(s)
1   Samoa McLean Park, Napier Test match 7 June 1996 Won 51–10 [4]
2   Scotland Carisbrook, Dunedin 15 June 1996 Won 62–31 [10][7]
3   Wales Wembley Stadium, London 1997 New Zealand tour of Britain and Ireland 29 November 1997 Won 42–7 [20]
4   Fiji Westpac Stadium, Wellington Test match 29 June 2002 Won 68–18 [8]

Statistics

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Source:[1][5][6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Cullen played for New Zealand 60 times overall.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Christian Cullen #952". All Blacks. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ SFMS Limited. "Statsguru / Test matches / Player records/ total tries scored". ESPNscrum. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  3. ^ "International Team Records". SuperSport. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "New Zealand (27) 51 – 10 (10) Samoa (FT)". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Statsguru / Player analysis / Christian Cullen / Test matches (primary team: New Zealand)". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Statsguru / Player analysis / Christian Cullen / Tournament list". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Cleary, Mick (16 June 1996). "Rugby union: All Black star burns too bright for Scots New Zealand 62 Scotland 31". The Observer. p. 003. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Rugby Union: Kiwis hand Fiji an 11-try hiding; International Rugby". Wales on Sunday. 30 June 2002. p. 9. ProQuest 342043937. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ McGuigan, Thomas (23 September 2007). "Scotland 0–40 New Zealand". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b Edwards, Brent (16 June 1996). "Scotland the brave in defeat". The Independent on Sunday. p. 25. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale General OneFile.
  11. ^ Ackford, Paul (7 July 1996). "Rugby Union: All Blacks discover perfect blend Rugby Union Disappointing Australians have no answer to opponents' variety and Lomu launches New Zealand's display of power". The Sunday Telegraph. p. 08.
  12. ^ Daniels, David (18 August 1996). "Fitzpatrick in captain's knock; South Africa 19 New Zealand 23". The Independent on Sunday. p. 26. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale General OneFile.
  13. ^ "New Zealand (45) 71 – 5 (5) Fiji (FT)". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  14. ^ Knight, Lindsay (23 June 1997). "Umaga run a gem among All Black riches; How points were scored". The Dominion Post. ProQuest 314920313. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  15. ^ "All Blacks pummel Argentina". The Sunday Age. 22 June 1997. ProQuest 367236536. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  16. ^ Mitchell, Campbell (29 June 1997). "Test-spoiling Pumas slow All Blacks scoring machine". Sunday News. p. 61. ProQuest 314854040. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  17. ^ "Series not won yet – Hart; But he's 'chuffed' with two away wins". The Evening Post. 28 July 1997. p. 24. ProQuest 314498419. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  18. ^ Hands, David (11 August 1997). "All Blacks set fair to take tri-nations tournament; Rugby Union". The Times. p. 37. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  19. ^ Fortune, Alex (17 August 1997). "Weary All Blacks enjoy whitewash season; Rugby Union". The Sunday Times. p. 13. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  20. ^ a b "Wales V New Zealand Classics". Welsh Rugby Union. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  21. ^ Hewett, Chris (20 June 1998). "Rugby Union: Grewcock sees Black and red". The Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  22. ^ Smith, Terry (3 August 1998). "Wallabies bury All Black bogey / Heartbreak for former invincibles". The Daily Telegraph. p. 031. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  23. ^ Hinton, Marc (30 August 1998). "Hart-Breaking; Coach vows to stay for cup". Sunday Star-Times. p. B1. ProQuest 313931025. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  24. ^ Schumacher, Bob (28 June 1999). "French yield to NZ panache". The Press. p. 18. ProQuest 314181929. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  25. ^ Robbins, Grant (11 July 1999). "Rugby: All Blacks step on the gas: Springbok defence crumbles meekly as Tri-Nations campaign starts on the wrong foot". The Observer. p. 9. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  26. ^ Cain, Nick (8 August 1999). "Boks bow to Cullen; Rugby Union". The Times. p. 11. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  27. ^ Hands, David (15 October 1999). "Italy are swept away by an All Black tide". The Times. ProQuest 318187412. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  28. ^ "All Blacks maul Tonga". BBC News. 16 June 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  29. ^ Stanley, Nick (26 June 2000). "Scots learn the hard way". The Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  30. ^ Hinton, Marc (2 July 2000). "Cribb hot in house of rain". Sunday Star-Times. ProQuest 313962022. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  31. ^ "All Blacks battle past Australia in thriller". ESPNscrum. 15 July 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  32. ^ Hinton, Marc; Johnstone, Duncan (23 July 2000). "Wham, bam, Cullen slams". Sunday Star-Times. p. B1. ProQuest 313990475. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  33. ^ Palmer, Bryn (6 August 2000). "Defiant Eales seals victory with final kick". The Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  34. ^ Colquhoun, Andy (20 August 2000). "Tri Nations: Springboks pull Mallett from brink". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  35. ^ Holden, Dadl (14 November 2000). "Speedy Cullen in race to 50th cap". The Press. p. 35. ProQuest 314381670. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via ProQuest.
  36. ^ Kennedy, Colin (8 June 2002). "Cullen and Caleb clean up Italy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2021.