2007 Tri Nations Series

Date	16 June – 21 July
Final positions
Champions	New Zealand (8th title)
Bledisloe Cup	New Zealand
Freedom Cup	New Zealand
Mandela Challenge Plate	Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Tries scored	19 (3.17 per match)
Attendance	310,998 (51,833 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Dan Carter (62)
Most tries	Tony Woodcock (2) Matt Giteau (2)
← 2006 2008 →

The 2007 Tri Nations Series was an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series began in South Africa on 16 June, with a Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands, Cape Town and ended on 21 July in Eden Park, Auckland with a Test between New Zealand and Australia. The winners, for the third consecutive year, were New Zealand.

The 2007 series consisted of six matches (two home matches each), three fewer than the 2006 series, because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup which would commence on 7 September. The draw was scheduled to ensure that no team played more than two matches in a row, the early finish allowing each team seven full weeks before the start of the World Cup.

The competition reverted to a nine-Test series from 2008 onwards.^[1] Early in 2007, it was thought that there was a chance that Argentina could be admitted to the competition as early as 2008, as it had been reported that the worldwide governing body for rugby union, the International Rugby Board, was brokering a deal for the entry of the Pumas.^[2] However, by August of that year, it became clear that the competition would not be expanded while the current media contracts ran; the key contract with News Corporation would not expire until 2010.^[3]

The tournament had been put into jeopardy after the Springboks team confirmed they were sending a below strength side for the Australasian leg of the tournament.^[4]

New Zealand and Australian rugby officials considered on the news of the below strength Springbok team, that they might consider scrapping their remaining fixtures against South Africa but cited that because of many arrangements including broadcasting, stadium and ticket arrangements that it might be too complicated.^[5] The ARU also retracted proposals to continue the series without the Springboks after SARU sent a medical report, citing a sport scientist saying "they (the Springboks) might as well not bother going to the World Cup" if they send top injured players to the remaining games.^[6] The match turned out to be much more competitive than many observers had predicted, with South Africa storming to a 17–0 lead in the first 16 minutes before the Wallabies regained their composure to eventually overrun the Boks 25–17.

Place	Nation	Games				Points			Bonus points	Table points
		Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Difference
1	New Zealand	4	3	0	1	100	59	+41	1	13
2	Australia	4	2	0	2	76	80	−4	1	9
3	South Africa	4	1	0	3	66	103	−37	1	5

All times are local.

16 June 2007 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	22–19	Australia (1 BP)
Try: Fourie 15' c Con: Montgomery (1/1) Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 45', 53' Drop: Steyn (2/2) 74', 77'		Try: Giteau 31' c Con: Mortlock (1/1) Pen: Mortlock (4/4) 13', 29', 36', 44'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 48,416 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

FB 15 Percy Montgomery RW 14 Ashwin Willemse  60' OC 13 Jaque Fourie IC 12 Jean de Villiers LW 11 JP Pietersen FH 10 Butch James SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Pierre Spies OF 7 Juan Smith  54' BF 6 Schalk Burger RL 5 Victor Matfield LL 4 Bakkies Botha  63' TP 3 BJ Botha  60'  67' HK 2 John Smit (c)  10' LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp  67' Substitutions: HK 16 Gary Botha  10' PR 17 CJ van der Linde  60' LK 18 Johann Muller  63' N8 19 Danie Rossouw  54' SH 20 Michael Claassens CE 21 Wynand Olivier FB 22 François Steyn  60' Coach: Jake White

FB 15 Julian Huxley RW 14 Drew Mitchell OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c)  79' IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Wycliff Palu  79' OF 7 George Smith  57' BF 6 Rocky Elsom  57' RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Stephen Moore  63' LP 1 Matt Dunning Substitutions: HK 16 Adam Freier  63' PR 17 Al Baxter LK 18 Mark Chisholm  57' FL 19 Stephen Hoiles  79' FL 20 Phil Waugh  57' CE 21 Adam Ashley-Cooper WG 22 Mark Gerrard  79' Coach: John Connolly

23 June 2007 15:00 SAST (UTC+02)

(1 BP) South Africa	21–26	New Zealand
Try: Burger 40' c James 44' c Con: Montgomery (1/2) Pen: Montgomery (2/2) 5', 66' Pienaar (1/1) 19'		Try: McCaw 69' c Rokocoko 71' c Con: Carter (2/2) Pen: Carter (3/3) 31', 38', 55' Drop: Mauger (1/1) 42'

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 51,861 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

FB 15 Percy Montgomery RW 14 Ashwin Willemse  65' OC 13 Jaque Fourie IC 12 Jean de Villiers LW 11 JP Pietersen FH 10 Butch James  52' SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Bobby Skinstad  52' OF 7 Danie Rossouw BF 6 Schalk Burger RL 5 Victor Matfield (c) LL 4 Bakkies Botha  65' TP 3 BJ Botha HK 2 Gary Botha LP 1 Os du Randt  53' Substitutions: HK 16 Bismarck du Plessis PR 17 CJ van der Linde  53' LK 18 Johann Muller  65' N8 19 Pedrie Wannenburg  52' SH 20 Michael Claassens FH 21 Wynand Olivier  65' CE 22 François Steyn  52' Coach: Jake White

FB 15 Mils Muliaina  70' RW 14 Joe Rokocoko OC 13 Isaia Toeava IC 12 Aaron Mauger  66' LW 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher  70' N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Greg Rawlinson  48' LL 4 Troy Flavell TP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Anton Oliver  51' LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutions: HK 16 Keven Mealamu  51' PR 17 Neemia Tialata LK 18 Ross Filipo  48' FL 19 Chris Masoe SH 20 Piri Weepu  70' CE 21 Luke McAlister  66' FB 22 Leon MacDonald  70' Coach: Graham Henry

30 June 2007 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	20–15	New Zealand (1 BP)
Try: Ashley-Cooper 64' c Staniforth 71' c Con: Giteau (2/2) Pen: Mortlock (2) 14', 19'		Try: Woodcock 3' c Gear 26' m Con: Carter (1/2) Pen: Carter 17'

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Attendance: 79,322 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

FB 15 Julian Huxley RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan  55' N8 8 Rocky Elsom  70' OF 7 George Smith  70' BF 6 Wycliff Palu  40' RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Stephen Moore  47' LP 1 Matt Dunning  77' Substitutions: HK 16 Adam Freier  47' PR 17 Al Baxter  77' FL 18 Mark Chisholm  70' LK 19 Stephen Hoiles  40' FL 20 Phil Waugh  70' FH 21 Scott Staniforth  55' FB 22 Mark Gerrard Coach: John Connolly

FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Rico Gear OC 13 Luke McAlister IC 12 Aaron Mauger LW 11 Joe Rokocoko  75' FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher  50' N8 8 Rodney So'oialo  74' OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerry Collins  65' RL 5 Troy Flavell  45' LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Carl Hayman 61' to 71' HK 2 Anton Oliver  45' LP 1 Tony Woodcock  45'  65' Substitutions: PR 16 Keven Mealamu  45' PR 17 Neemia Tialata  45' LK 18 Ross Filipo  45' FL 19 Chris Masoe  74' SH 20 Piri Weepu  50' FH 21 Nick Evans WG 22 Sitiveni Sivivatu  75' Coach: Graham Henry

7 July 2007 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	25–17	South Africa
Try: Gerrard 22' c Hoiles 42' c Giteau 55' m Con: Mortlock (2/3) Pen: Mortlock (2/2)		Try: van Heerden 6' c Paulse 8' c Con: Hougaard (2/2) Pen: Hougaard 16' (1/3)

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 51,174 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

FB 15 Julian Huxley RW 14 Mark Gerrard OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12 Matt Giteau  78' LW 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper  78' FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Stephen Hoiles  64' OF 7 George Smith  71' BF 6 Rocky Elsom  60' RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Guy Shepherdson  58' HK 2 Adam Freier  20'  34'  64' LP 1 Matt Dunning  73' Substitutions: HK 16 Sean Hardman  20'  34'  64' PR 17 Al Baxter  58' LK 18 Hugh McMeniman  60' FL 19 David Lyons  64' FL 20 Phil Waugh  71' FH 21 Scott Staniforth  78' FB 22 Drew Mitchell  78' Coach: John Connolly

FB 15 Bevin Fortuin  73' RW 14 Breyton Paulse OC 13 Waylon Murray IC 12 Wynand Olivier LW 11 JP Pietersen FH 10 Derick Hougaard  73' SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Bobby Skinstad (c)  62' OF 7 Pedrie Wannenburg  49' BF 6 Wikus van Heerden RL 5 Johann Muller LL 4 Johan Ackerman  29' TP 3 Jannie du Plessis  73' HK 2 Gary Botha 58' to 68' LP 1 CJ van der Linde Substitutions: PR 16 Bismarck du Plessis  58' PR 17 Eddie Andrews  73' LK 18 Albert van den Berg  29' FL 19 Jacques Cronjé  49'  58'  62' SH 20 Michael Claassens  73' FH 21 Peter Grant  73' CE 22 Jaco Pretorius Coach: Jack White

14 July 2007 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

New Zealand	33–6	South Africa
Try: Leonard 69' c Evans 76' c Carter 80' c Con: Carter (3) Pen: Carter (4)		Pen: Hougaard (2)

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 33,708 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Doug Howlett  74' OC 13 Isaia Toeava  78' IC 12 Luke McAlister LW 11 Joe Rokocoko FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Piri Weepu  54' N8 8 Rodney So'oialo  74' OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Reuben Thorne RL 5 Keith Robinson  64' LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Carl Hayman  78' HK 2 Keven Mealamu  74' LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutions: HK 16 Andrew Hore  74' PR 17 Neemia Tialata  78' FL 18 Jerry Collins  64' FL 19 Chris Masoe  74' SH 20 Brendon Leonard  54' CE 21 Conrad Smith  78' FH 22 Nick Evans  74' Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 JP Pietersen RW 14 Breyton Paulse  78' OC 13 Waylon Murray IC 12 Wynand Olivier LW 11 Jaco Pretorius  74' FH 10 Derick Hougaard  57' SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Jacques Cronjé OF 7 Pedrie Wannenburg 53' to 63'  78' BF 6 Wikus van Heerden RL 5 Johann Muller (c) LL 4 Albert van den Berg  68' TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis  68' LP 1 CJ van der Linde  78' Substitutions: HK 16 Gary Botha  68' PR 17 Eddie Andrews  78' LK 18 Gerrie Britz  68' FL 19 Hilton Lobberts  78' SH 20 Michael Claassens  78' FH 21 Peter Grant  57' WG 22 Tonderai Chavhanga  74' Coach: Jake White

21 July 2007 19:35 NZST (UTC+12)

New Zealand	26–12	Australia
Try: Woodcock 58' m Pen: Carter (7) 10', 29', 36', 39', 44', 51', 73'		Pen: Mortlock (3) 24', 33', 47' Drop: Giteau 25'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Doug Howlett OC 13 Isaia Toeava IC 12 Luke McAlister LW 11 Joe Rokocoko FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Chris Jack LL 4 Keith Robinson TP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Anton Oliver LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutions: HK 16 Keven Mealamu PR 17 Neemia Tialata LK 18 Reuben Thorne FL 19 Chris Masoe SH 20 Brendon Leonard CE 21 Aaron Mauger FH 22 Nick Evans Coach: Graham Henry

FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper RW 14 Mark Gerrard OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Drew Mitchell FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 Stephen Hoiles OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt Dunning Substitutions: HK 16 Adam Freier PR 17 Al Baxter FL 18 Hugh McMeniman LK 19 Mark Chisholm FL 20 Phil Waugh CE 21 Scott Staniforth FB 22 Chris Latham Coach: John Connolly

• All Blacks Tri Nations website
• "SA Rugby Competition – 2007 Vodacom Tri-Nations". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
• Wallabies Tri Nations website