2010 Tri Nations Series

2010 Tri Nations Series
Date	10 July 2010–; 11 September 2010
Final positions
Champions	New Zealand (10th title)
Bledisloe Cup	New Zealand
Freedom Cup	New Zealand
Mandela Challenge Plate	Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played	9
Tries scored	52 (5.78 per match)
Attendance	441,997 (49,111 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Morné Steyn (77)
Most tries	James O'Connor; Mils Muliaina; (4 tries)
	← 2009 2011 ⊟

The 2010 Tri Nations Series was the 15th annual Tri Nations series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

New Zealand clinched the series crown with one match remaining, scoring two tries in the last 3 minutes to defeat South Africa 29–22 on 21 August in the first-ever Test at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.^[1] The 2010 Tri-Nations season has seen new records set by the All Blacks; they are the first team to finish undefeated since the expansion of the tournament to 9 rounds, and have seen the highest number of tries and overall points in the history of the tournament.^[2]

The series concluded 11 September 2010 with New Zealand's win over Australia 23–22.^[3] The 2011 series commenced on 23 July 2011 in Australia.^[4]

Background

New Zealand, South Africa and Australia were ranked first, second, and third in the IRB World Rankings, but this changed due to Australia's 21–20 loss to England on 16 June 2010. This game moved Australia down to fourth in the IRB World Rankings but they returned to third in rankings a week later, after France's heavy defeat to Argentina and Australia's win against Ireland in the last week of the 2010 mid-year rugby test series.

The final match of the Bledisloe Cup series between Australia and New Zealand took place after the Tri-Nations, on 30 October (the first 3 matches of the series were part of the Tri-Nations).

Standings

Place	Nation	Games				Points			Bonus points		Table points
Place	Nation	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff	4 Tries	7 Point Loss	Table points
1	New Zealand	6	6	0	0	184	111	73	3	0	27
2	Australia	6	2	0	4	162	188	−26	2	1	11
3	South Africa	6	1	0	5	147	194	−47	1	2	7

Fixtures

All times are local

New Zealand vs South Africa, Auckland

10 July 2010
19:35 NZST (UTC 12)

(1 BP) New Zealand	32–12	South Africa
Try: Smith 18' c Nonu 35' c Read 56' c Woodcock 79' m Con: Carter (3/4) Pen: Carter (2/3) 13', 24'	Report^[5]	Pen: Steyn (4/4) 6', 41', 46', 60'

Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 25,000^[6]
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu
LW	11	Joe Rokocoko	58'
FH	10	Dan Carter
SH	9	Jimmy Cowan	54'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)
BF	6	Jerome Kaino	72'
RL	5	Tom Donnelly	72'
LL	4	Brad Thorn
TP	3	Carl Hayman	64'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu	78'
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Substitutes:
HK	16	Corey Flynn	78'
PR	17	Ben Franks	64'
LK	18	Sam Whitelock	72'
FL	19	Liam Messam	72'
SH	20	Piri Weepu	54'
FH	21	Aaron Cruden
WG	22	Richard Kahui	58'
Coach:
Graham Henry


FB	15	Zane Kirchner
RW	14	Jean de Villiers
OC	13	Jaque Fourie
IC	12	Wynand Olivier		72'
LW	11	Bryan Habana
FH	10	Morné Steyn		72'
SH	9	Ricky Januarie		76'
N8	8	Pierre Spies
OF	7	Francois Louw		52'
BF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Bakkies Botha	13' to 23'	52'
TP	3	Jannie du Plessis		59'
HK	2	John Smit (c)		72'
LP	1	Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle		72'
PR	17	BJ Botha		59'
LK	18	Andries Bekker		52'
LK	19	Danie Rossouw		52'
SH	20	Ruan Pienaar		76'
FH	21	Butch James		72'
WG	22	Gio Aplon		72'
Coach:
Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Television match official:
Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Following the match, Bakkies Botha was handed a nine-week suspension for headbutting Jimmy Cowan in the first minute of the match, an offence missed by referee Alan Lewis. The suspension sidelined Botha for the remainder of the Tri Nations.^[7]

New Zealand vs South Africa, Wellington

17 July 2010
19:35 NZST (UTC 12)

(1 BP) New Zealand	31–17	South Africa
Try: Nonu 7' m Muliaina 11' m Ranger 45' m Dagg 65' c Con: Carter (1/4) Pen: Carter (2/4) 30', 69' Weepu (1/1) 51'	Report^[8]	Try: Rossouw 36' c Burger 74' c Con: Steyn (2/2) Pen: Steyn (1/1) 42'

Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu	73'
LW	11	Rene Ranger	63'
FH	10	Dan Carter
SH	9	Piri Weepu	63'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)	76'
BF	6	Jerome Kaino
RL	5	Tom Donnelly	63'
LL	4	Brad Thorn
TP	3	Carl Hayman	70'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu	76'
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Substitutes:
HK	16	Corey Flynn	76'
PR	17	Ben Franks	70'
LK	18	Sam Whitelock	63'
FL	19	Liam Messam	76'
SH	20	Jimmy Cowan	63'
FH	21	Aaron Cruden	73'
FB	22	Israel Dagg	63'
Coach:
Graham Henry


FB	15	Zane Kirchner
RW	14	Jean de Villiers		40'
OC	13	Jaque Fourie
IC	12	Wynand Olivier
LW	11	Bryan Habana
FH	10	Morné Steyn
SH	9	Ricky Januarie		53'
N8	8	Pierre Spies		70'
OF	7	Francois Louw
BF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Danie Rossouw	4' to 14'	53'
TP	3	CJ van der Linde		40'
HK	2	John Smit (c)		76'
LP	1	Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle		76'
PR	17	BJ Botha		40'
LK	18	Andries Bekker		53'
N8	19	Ryan Kankowski		70'
SH	20	Ruan Pienaar		53'
FH	21	Butch James
WG	22	Gio Aplon		40'
Coach:
Peter de Villiers

Touch judges:
Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Television match official:
Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

During this match the All Blacks became the highest point scorers in international rugby, passing France.^[9]
Following the match, Jean de Villiers was handed a two-week suspension for a lifting tackle against Rene Ranger. De Villiers' previously good disciplinary record was cited as a mitigating factor with regard to the length of suspension. The suspension sidelined de Villiers for the Springboks' next match against Australia.^[10]

Australia vs South Africa, Brisbane

24 July 2010
20:00 AEST (UTC 10)

Australia	30–13	South Africa
Try: Mitchell 39' m Genia 75' c Con: O'Connor (1/1) Pen: Giteau (5/6) 14', 19', 23', 31', 42' O'Connor (1/1) 46'	Report^[11]	Try: Fourie 62' m Steenlamp 71' m Pen: Steyn (1/1) 17'

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 44,284
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)


FB	15	Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Rob Horne
IC	12	Matt Giteau		74'
LW	11	Drew Mitchell
FH	10	Quade Cooper	54' to 64'
SH	9	Will Genia
N8	8	Richard Brown		70'
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe
LL	4	Dean Mumm		68'
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu
HK	2	Saia Fainga'a		54'
LP	1	Benn Robinson		58'
Replacements:
HK	16	Stephen Moore		54'
PR	17	James Slipper		58'
LK	18	Rob Simmons		68'
N8	19	Ben McCalman		70'
SH	20	Luke Burgess
FH	21	Berrick Barnes		74'
FB	22	Kurtley Beale
Coach:
Robbie Deans


FB	15	Zane Kirchner
RW	14	Gio Aplon
OC	13	Jaque Fourie	2' to 12'
IC	12	Wynand Olivier		54'
LW	11	Bryan Habana
FH	10	Morné Steyn		54'
SH	9	Ruan Pienaar		72'
N8	8	Pierre Spies		48' to 55'
BF	7	Ryan Kankowski		56'
OF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Danie Rossouw		68'
TP	3	BJ Botha	45' to 55'	68'
HK	2	John Smit (c)		72'
LP	1	Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle		72'
PR	17	CJ van der Linde		48'	55'	68'
LK	18	Flip van der Merwe		68'
N8	19	Dewald Potgieter		56'
SH	20	Francois Hougaard		72'
FH	21	Butch James		54'
FB	22	Juan de Jongh		54'
Coach:
Peter de Villiers

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

Following the match, two players, one from each team, were handed suspensions:^[12]
- Jaque Fourie was suspended for four weeks for a spear tackle of Richard Brown. He will miss the Springboks' next Test against the All Blacks.
- Quade Cooper was suspended for two weeks for a spear tackle of Morné Steyn. As in the case of Jean de Villiers last week, Cooper's previously good disciplinary history was cited as a mitigating factor. The Australian Rugby Union appealed the length of the ban, presumably because the suspensions of Fourie and de Villiers kept them out of only one Test, but was denied.^[13] Cooper was sidelined for the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests in Melbourne and Christchurch.

Australia vs New Zealand, Melbourne

31 July 2010
20:00 AEST (UTC 10)

Australia	28–49	New Zealand (1 BP)
Try: Mitchell 7' m Ashley-Cooper 55' c Elsom 69' c Con: Giteau (2/3) Pen: Giteau 3', 30' Barnes 17'	Report^[14]	Try: Carter 9' c Muliaina 12' m, 46' c McCaw 24' c Jane 35' c Rokocoko 58' m Flynn 79' m Con: Carter (4/7) Pen: Carter 6', 33'

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 51,409
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)


FB	15	Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Rob Horne		55'
IC	12	Berrick Barnes
LW	11	Drew Mitchell	28' 43'
FH	10	Matt Giteau		77'
SH	9	Will Genia		76'
N8	8	Richard Brown
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe		47'
LL	4	Dean Mumm
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu		59'
HK	2	Stephen Moore		48'
LP	1	Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK	16	Saia Fainga'a		48'
PR	17	James Slipper		59'
LK	18	Rob Simmons		47'
N8	19	Matt Hodgson
SH	20	Luke Burgess		76'
FH	21	Anthony Fainga'a		77'
FB	22	Kurtley Beale		55'
Coach:
Robbie Deans


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane		75'
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu		71'
LW	11	Joe Rokocoko
FH	10	Dan Carter
SH	9	Jimmy Cowan		33'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)
BF	6	Jerome Kaino
RL	5	Tom Donnelly		74'
LL	4	Brad Thorn		60'
TP	3	Owen Franks	22' to 32'	43'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu		71'
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK	16	Corey Flynn		71'
PR	17	Ben Franks		43'
LK	18	Sam Whitelock		60'
N8	19	Victor Vito		74'
SH	20	Piri Weepu		33'
FH	21	Aaron Cruden		71'
FB	22	Israel Dagg		75'
Coach:
Graham Henry

Touch judges:
Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official:
George Ayoub (Australia)

Following the match, IRB referee chief Paddy O'Brien announced that Cobus Wessels would be dropped as a touch judge for the upcoming New Zealand–Australia Test because of a number of key errors, most notably Wessels' recommendation that Wallabies wing Drew Mitchell receive the first of his two yellow cards for what O'Brien deemed a marginal penalty. As a result, the IRB made a one-off exception to its standard policy of requiring neutral touch judges and referees for international matches, assigning New Zealander Keith Brown to take Wessels' place.^[15]

New Zealand vs Australia, Christchurch

7 August 2010
19:35 NZST (UTC 12)

New Zealand	20–10	Australia
Try: Muliaina 6' c Smith 13' c Con: Carter (2/2) Pen: Carter (2/2) 34', 70'	Report^[16]	Try: Beale 9' c Con: Giteau (1/1) Pen: Giteau (1/2) 18'

AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Attendance: 38,628
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu
LW	11	Joe Rokocoko
FH	10	Dan Carter
SH	9	Piri Weepu	75'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)
BF	6	Jerome Kaino	70'
RL	5	Tom Donnelly	50'
LL	4	Brad Thorn
TP	3	Owen Franks	42'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu	76'
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK	16	Corey Flynn	76'
PR	17	Ben Franks	42'
LK	18	Sam Whitelock	50'
N8	19	Victor Vito	70'
SH	20	Alby Mathewson	75'
FH	21	Aaron Cruden
FB	22	Benson Stanley
Coach:
Graham Henry


FB	15	Kurtley Beale
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Adam Ashley-Cooper
IC	12	Anthony Fainga'a
LW	11	Drew Mitchell
FH	10	Matt Giteau
SH	9	Will Genia
N8	8	Richard Brown	55'
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe	65'
LL	4	Dean Mumm
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu	64'
HK	2	Saia Fainga'a
LP	1	Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK	16	Stephen Moore
PR	17	James Slipper	64'
LK	18	Rob Simmons	65'
N8	19	Matt Hodgson	55'
SH	20	Luke Burgess
FH	21	Berrick Barnes
FB	22	Cameron Shepherd
Coach:
Robbie Deans

Touch judges:
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Cobus Wessels (South Africa)

South Africa vs New Zealand, Johannesburg

21 August 2010
17:00 SAST (UTC 02)

(1 BP) South Africa	22–29	New Zealand
Try: Burger 24' c Con: Steyn (1/1) Pen: Steyn (5/5) 10', 12', 31', 43', 62'	Report^[17]	Try: Woodcock 36' m McCaw 77' m Dagg 79' c Con: Carter (1/3) Pen: Carter (4/6) 5', 19', 27', 66'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 94,713^[18]
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)


FB	15	Gio Aplon
RW	14	JP Pietersen
OC	13	Juan de Jongh
IC	12	Jean de Villiers
LW	11	Bryan Habana
FH	10	Morné Steyn
SH	9	Francois Hougaard	76'
N8	8	Pierre Spies
OF	7	Juan Smith	58'
BF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Flip van der Merwe	69'
TP	3	Jannie du Plessis	62'
HK	2	John Smit (c)
LP	1	Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle
PR	17	CJ van der Linde	62'
LK	18	Danie Rossouw	69'
N8	19	Francois Louw	58'
SH	20	Ricky Januarie	76'
FH	21	Butch James
FB	22	Wynand Olivier
Coach:
Peter de Villiers


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu
LW	11	Joe Rokocoko	57'
FH	10	Dan Carter
SH	9	Jimmy Cowan	42'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)
BF	6	Jerome Kaino	70'
RL	5	Tom Donnelly	49'
LL	4	Brad Thorn
TP	3	Ben Franks	62'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK	16	Corey Flynn
PR	17	John Afoa	62'
LK	18	Sam Whitelock	49'
N8	19	Victor Vito	70'
SH	20	Piri Weepu	42'
FH	21	Aaron Cruden
FB	22	Israel Dagg	57'
Coach:
Graham Henry

Touch judges:
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Springboks captain John Smit became the second Springbok to earn 100 Test caps, after Percy Montgomery.
The result of this match meant that the All Blacks took the 2010 Tri-Nations title with one match remaining,^[19]^[20]^[21] as well as the Freedom Cup.
This game also marked the All Blacks' 1000th win in international rugby, including non-Test matches.

South Africa vs Australia, Pretoria

28 August 2010
17:00 SAST (UTC 02)

(1 BP) South Africa	44–31	Australia (1 BP)
Try: Smith 8' c Steenkamp 13' c Spies 31' c F. Steyn 49' c Pietersen 79' c Con: M. Steyn (4/4) James (1/1) Pen: M. Steyn (2/2) 19', 45' F. Steyn (1/1) 67'	Report^[22]	Try: Genia 2' c O'Connor (2) 5' c, 10' c Mumm 25' c Con: Giteau (4/4) Pen: Giteau (1/2) 47'

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance: 43,152^[23]
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)


FB	15	François Steyn
RW	14	JP Pietersen
OC	13	Jaque Fourie
IC	12	Jean de Villiers
LW	11	Bryan Habana
FH	10	Morné Steyn	64'
SH	9	Francois Hougaard
N8	8	Pierre Spies
OF	7	Juan Smith
BF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Flip van der Merwe	48'
TP	3	Jannie du Plessis	53'
HK	2	John Smit (c)	59'	79'
LP	1	Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle	59'
PR	17	CJ van der Linde	53'	79'
LK	18	Danie Rossouw	48'
N8	19	Ryan Kankowski
SH	20	Ricky Januarie
FH	21	Butch James	64'
FB	22	Juan de Jongh
Coach:
Peter de Villiers


FB	15	Kurtley Beale
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Adam Ashley-Cooper
IC	12	Matt Giteau
LW	11	Drew Mitchell
FH	10	Quade Cooper
SH	9	Will Genia
N8	8	Richard Brown	57'
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe	64'
LL	4	Dean Mumm
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu	54'
HK	2	Saia Fainga'a	27' to 38'
LP	1	Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK	16	Stephen Moore	27'	38'
PR	17	James Slipper	54'
LK	18	Ben McCalman	57'
N8	19	Rob Simmons	64'
SH	20	Luke Burgess
FH	21	Berrick Barnes
FB	22	Anthony Fainga'a
Coach:
Robbie Deans

Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

For the second straight week, a Springbok earned his 100th Test cap, with Victor Matfield reaching this milestone.^[24]

South Africa vs Australia, Bloemfontein

4 September 2010
17:00 SAST (UTC 02)

(1 BP) South Africa	39–41	Australia (1 BP)
Try: Fourie 39' Steenkamp 45' de Villiers 53' Con: M. Steyn (3/3) 40', 45', 54' Pen: M. Steyn (6/6) 5', 17', 49', 60', 69', 75'	Report^[25]	Try: Beale 7' O'Connor 13' Moore 20' Elsom 24' Mitchell 71' Con: Giteau (4/4) 8', 14', 21', 25' O'Connor (1/1) 72' Pen: Giteau (1/1) 1' Beale (1/1) 79'

Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Attendance: 38,523
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)


FB	15	François Steyn
RW	14	JP Pietersen
OC	13	Jaque Fourie
IC	12	Jean de Villiers
LW	11	Bryan Habana	50'
FH	10	Morné Steyn
SH	9	Francois Hougaard
N8	8	Pierre Spies	65'
OF	7	Juan Smith
BF	6	Schalk Burger
RL	5	Victor Matfield
LL	4	Danie Rossouw	60'
TP	3	Jannie du Plessis	55'
HK	2	John Smit (c)	65'
LP	1	Gurthrö Steenkamp
Replacements:
HK	16	Chiliboy Ralepelle	65'
PR	17	CJ van der Linde	55'
LK	18	Flip van der Merwe	60'
N8	19	Ryan Kankowski	65'
SH	20	Ricky Januarie
FH	21	Juan de Jongh
FB	22	Gio Aplon	50'
Coach:
Peter de Villiers


FB	15	Kurtley Beale
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Adam Ashley-Cooper
IC	12	Matt Giteau	71'
LW	11	Drew Mitchell	73'
FH	10	Quade Cooper
SH	9	Will Genia	54'
N8	8	Ben McCalman
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe
LL	4	Mark Chisholm	53'
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu	22'
HK	2	Stephen Moore	65'
LP	1	Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK	16	Saia Fainga'a	65'
PR	17	James Slipper	22'
LK	18	Dean Mumm	53'
N8	19	Richard Brown
SH	20	Luke Burgess	54'
FH	21	Berrick Barnes	71'
FB	22	Anthony Fainga'a	73'
Coach:
Robbie Deans

Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official:
Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

This was the Wallabies' first win on the Highveld since 1963.^[26]
John Smit earned his 102nd Test cap, equalling the South Africa record of Percy Montgomery.
Morné Steyn extended his personal streak of successful kicks at goal in Tests to 38. Statistics on success rates of goal kickers were not kept until the late 1980s, but it is very likely that Steyn has set an all-time record. Steyn surpassed the previous (recorded) best of Scotland's Chris Paterson at 36.^[27]

Australia vs New Zealand, Sydney

11 September 2010
20:00 AEST (UTC 10)

(1 BP) Australia	22–23	New Zealand
Try: O'Connor 16' Ashley-Cooper 46' Pen: Giteau (3/) 6', 31', 40' Beale (1/1) 59'	Report^[28]	Try: McCaw 67' Read 73' Con: Weepu (2/2) 68', 73' Pen: Weepu (3/3) 2', 10', 52'

ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 70,288
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)


FB	15	Kurtley Beale
RW	14	James O'Connor
OC	13	Adam Ashley-Cooper	79'
IC	12	Matt Giteau
LW	11	Lachie Turner
FH	10	Quade Cooper	73'
SH	9	Will Genia	72'
N8	8	Ben McCalman	73'
OF	7	David Pocock
BF	6	Rocky Elsom (c)
RL	5	Nathan Sharpe
LL	4	Mark Chisholm	56'
TP	3	Salesi Ma'afu	52'
HK	2	Stephen Moore
LP	1	Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK	16	Huia Edmonds
PR	17	James Slipper	52'
LK	18	Dean Mumm	56'
N8	19	Richard Brown	73'
SH	20	Luke Burgess	72'
FH	21	Berrick Barnes	73'
IC	22	Anthony Fainga'a	79'
Coach:
Robbie Deans


FB	15	Mils Muliaina
RW	14	Cory Jane	69'
OC	13	Conrad Smith
IC	12	Ma'a Nonu
LW	11	Israel Dagg
FH	10	Aaron Cruden	60'
SH	9	Piri Weepu	79'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Richie McCaw (c)
BF	6	Victor Vito	49'
RL	5	Tom Donnelly	61'
LL	4	Brad Thorn
TP	3	Owen Franks	61'
HK	2	Keven Mealamu	11'
LP	1	Tony Woodcock
Replacements:
HK	16	Corey Flynn	11'
PR	17	John Afoa	61'
LK	18	Anthony Boric	61'
N8	19	Jerome Kaino	49'
SH	20	Jimmy Cowan	79'
FH	21	Colin Slade	60'
WG	22	Rene Ranger	69'
Coach:
Graham Henry

Touch judges:
Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia)

Source: Tri Nations Web^[29]

This test was a milestone for Richie McCaw, who surpassed Sean Fitzpatrick as the most-capped New Zealand captain.^[30]
The win is the 10th win in a row for New Zealand over Australia, a new record.^[2]
New Zealand are the first team in the Tri Nations series to win undefeated since 2003, and set records for the most points (184) and tries scored (22).^[2]

Player statistics

Leading try scorers

Top try scorers
Pos	Name	Team	Tries
1	Mils Muliaina	New Zealand	4
1	James O'Connor	Australia	4
3	Richie McCaw	New Zealand	3
	Drew Mitchell	Australia	3
	Gurthrö Steenkamp	South Africa	3
6	Adam Ashley-Cooper	Australia	2
	Kurtley Beale	Australia	2
	Schalk Burger	South Africa	2
	Israel Dagg	New Zealand	2
	Rocky Elsom	Australia	2
	Jaque Fourie	South Africa	2
	Will Genia	Australia	2
	Ma'a Nonu	New Zealand	2
	Kieran Read	New Zealand	2
	Conrad Smith	New Zealand	2
	Tony Woodcock	New Zealand	2

Source: scrum.com

Leading point scorers

Top 5 point scorers
Pos	Name	Team	Points
1	Morné Steyn	South Africa	77
2	Matt Giteau	Australia	64
3	Dan Carter	New Zealand	63
4	James O'Connor	Australia	27
5	Mils Muliaina	New Zealand	20