1996 Tri Nations Series

The 1996 Tri Nations Series was the inaugural Tri Nations Series, a rugby union competition contested by the men's national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It was contested from 6 July to 10 August. New Zealand won all four of their matches to claim the title, as well as retaining the Bledisloe Cup won the previous year for their two wins over Australia.

1996 Tri Nations Series

Final positions
Champions	New Zealand (1st title)
Bledisloe Cup	New Zealand
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Tries scored	19 (3.17 per match)
Attendance	248,540 (41,423 per match)
1997 →

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	119	60	+59	1	0	17
2	South Africa	4	1	0	3	70	84	–14	0	2	6
3	Australia	4	1	0	3	71	116	–45	0	2	6

Results

New Zealand v Australia

6 July 1996 14:35 NZST (UTC+12)

(1 BP) New Zealand	43–6	Australia
Try: Brooke Cullen Jones Lomu Marshall Wilson Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (3)		Pen: Burke (2)

Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 39,523 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Walter Little LW 11 Jonah Lomu FH 10 Andrew Mehrtens SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Michael Jones RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: WG 16 Eric Rush CE 17 Scott McLeod SH 18 Jon Preston LK 19 Blair Larsen PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

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

Australia v South Africa

13 July 1996 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	21–16	South Africa (1 BP)
Try: Roff Horan Con: Burke Pen: Burke (3)		Try: Hendriks Con: Honiball Pen: Honiball (2) Joubert

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,850 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 David Campese OC 13 Joe Roff IC 12 Tim Horan LW 11 Ben Tune FH 10 Pat Howard SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Michael Brial OF 7 David Wilson BF 6 Daniel Manu RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 Garrick Morgan TP 3 Dan Crowley HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Andrew Heath Replacements: CE 16 Daniel Herbert FH 17 Scott Bowen SH 18 Sam Payne FL 19 Owen Finegan PR 20 Richard Harry HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

FB 15 André Joubert RW 14 James Small OC 13 Japie Mulder IC 12 Brendan Venter LW 11 Pieter Hendriks FH 10 Henry Honiball SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann OF 7 Ruben Kruger BF 6 Francois Pienaar (c) RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Johan Ackermann TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 John Allan LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: WG 16 Justin Swart FH 17 Joel Stransky SH 18 Johan Roux PR 19 Balie Swart HK 20 Naka Drotské LK 21 Steve Atherton Coach: Andre Markgraaff

New Zealand v South Africa

20 July 1996 14:35 NZST (UTC+12)

New Zealand	15–11	South Africa (1 BP)
Pen: Mehrtens (5)		Try: Joubert Pen: Stransky (2)

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Ray Megson (Scotland)

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Walter Little LW 11 Jonah Lomu FH 10 Andrew Mehrtens SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Michael Jones RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: WG 16 Eric Rush CE 17 Scott McLeod SH 18 Jon Preston LK 19 Blair Larsen PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

FB 15 André Joubert RW 14 James Small OC 13 Japie Mulder IC 12 Brendan Venter LW 11 Pieter Hendriks FH 10 Joel Stransky SH 9 Johan Roux N8 8 Gary Teichmann OF 7 Ruben Kruger BF 6 Francois Pienaar (c) RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Johan Ackermann TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 John Allan LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: WG 16 Justin Swart CE 17 Danie van Schalkwyk SH 18 Joost van der Westhuizen LK 19 Steve Atherton PR 20 Balie Swart HK 21 Naka Drotské Coach: Andre Markgraaff

Australia v New Zealand

27 July 1996 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

(1 BP) Australia	25–32	New Zealand
Try: Burke Gregan Pen: Burke (5)		Try: Bunce Marshall Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (6)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 40,167 Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 David Campese OC 13 Joe Roff IC 12 Richard Tombs LW 11 Ben Tune FH 10 Pat Howard SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Michael Brial OF 7 David Wilson 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: CE 16 Daniel Herbert FH 17 Scott Bowen SH 18 Sam Payne N8 19 Tim Gavin PR 20 Dan Crowley HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Walter Little LW 11 Jonah Lomu FH 10 Andrew Mehrtens SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Michael Jones RL 5 Robin Brooke LL 4 Ian Jones TP 3 Olo Brown HK 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c) LP 1 Craig Dowd Replacements: FB 16 Glen Osborne CE 17 Scott McLeod SH 18 Jon Preston LK 19 Blair Larsen PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

South Africa v Australia

3 August 1996 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	25–19	Australia (1 BP)
Try: Stransky Con: Stransky Pen: Stransky (6)		Try: Tune Con: Eales Pen: Burke Eales (3)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Brian Stirling (Ireland)

FB 15 James Small RW 14 Justin Swart OC 13 Japie Mulder IC 12 Brendan Venter LW 11 Pieter Hendriks FH 10 Joel Stransky SH 9 Johan Roux N8 8 Gary Teichmann OF 7 Ruben Kruger BF 6 Francois Pienaar RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Johan Ackermann TP 3 Balie Swart HK 2 John Allan LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: CE 16 Danie van Schalkwyk FH 17 Vlok Cilliers SH 18 Joost van der Westhuizen LK 19 Hannes Strydom PR 20 Dawie Theron HK 21 Henry Tromp Coach: Andre Markgraaff

FB 15 Matt Burke RW 14 David Campese OC 13 Daniel Herbert IC 12 Pat Howard LW 11 Ben Tune FH 10 Scott Bowen SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Tim Gavin OF 7 David Wilson BF 6 Michael Brial RL 5 John Eales (c) LL 4 John Welborn TP 3 Andrew Heath HK 2 Michael Foley LP 1 Dan Crowley Replacements: WG 16 Joe Roff CE 17 Richard Tombs SH 18 Sam Payne FL 19 Daniel Manu PR 20 Richard Harry HK 21 Marco Caputo Coach: Greg Smith

South Africa v New Zealand

10 August 1996 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	18–29	New Zealand
Try: Du Randt Mulder Con: Stransky Pen: Stransky (2)		Try: Osborne Dowd Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (5)

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 51,000 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

FB 15 James Small RW 14 Pieter Hendriks OC 13 Japie Mulder IC 12 Hennie le Roux LW 11 Justin Swart FH 10 Joel Stransky SH 9 Joost van der Westhuizen N8 8 Gary Teichmann OF 7 Ruben Kruger BF 6 Francois Pienaar (c) RL 5 Mark Andrews LL 4 Steve Atherton TP 3 Marius Hurter HK 2 John Allan LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements: CE 16 Danie van Schalkwyk FH 17 Vlok Cilliers SH 18 Joggie Viljoen LK 19 Hannes Strydom PR 20 Dawie Theron HK 21 Henry Tromp Coach: Andre Markgraaff

FB 15 Christian Cullen RW 14 Jeff Wilson OC 13 Frank Bunce IC 12 Walter Little LW 11 Glen Osborne FH 10 Andrew Mehrtens SH 9 Justin Marshall N8 8 Zinzan Brooke OF 7 Josh Kronfeld BF 6 Michael Jones 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 SH 17 Jon Preston FL 18 Andrew Blowers LK 19 Blair Larsen PR 20 Bull Allen HK 21 Norm Hewitt Coach: John Hart

External links

• Tri Nations at Rugby.com.au