2002 Tri Nations Series
| Final positions | |
|---|---|
| Champions |  New Zealand (4th title) |
| Bledisloe Cup |  Australia |
| Mandela Challenge Plate |  South Africa |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Tries scored | 32 (5.33 per match) |
| Attendance | 306,764 (51,127 per match) |
← 2001 2003 → | |
The 2002 Tri Nations Series was contested from 13 July to 17 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the tournament.
South Africa won their first Mandela Challenge Plate in a one-off home test against Australia. Australia made it 5 wins in a row in the Bledisloe Cup, having taken it from New Zealand in 1998. As of 2022, this was the last time that Australia won the Bledisloe Cup.
Table
| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Try bonus |
Losing bonus |
Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | |||||
| 1 | New Zealand
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 97 | 65 | +32 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 2 | Australia
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 86 | +5 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 3 | South Africa
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 103 | 140 | −37 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
Results
| 13 July 2002 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
| New Zealand | 12–6 | Australia |
| Pen: Mehrtens (4) | Pen: Burke (2) |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 36,500[1] Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
| 20 July 2002 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
| New Zealand | 41–20 | South Africa |
| Try: Hammett Howlett Marshall Robertson Thorne Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (3) Drop: Mehrtens | Try: Greeff Joubert Con: Pretorius (2) Pen: Pretorius Drop: Greeff |
| Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 37,693[2] Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
| 27 July 2002 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Australia | 38–27 | South Africa |
| Try: Latham (2) Tune Mortlock Con: Burke (3) Pen: Burke (3) Mortlock | Try: Joubert (2) Skinstad Russell Con: Pretorius (2) Pen: Pretorius |
| The Gabba, Brisbane Attendance: 37,528[3] Referee: Steve Lander (England) |
| 3 August 2002 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Australia | 16–14 | New Zealand |
| Try: Rogers Sharpe Pen: Burke (2) | Try: McCaw Pen: Mehrtens (3) |
| Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 79,543[4] Referee: André Watson (South Africa) |
| 10 August 2002 15:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
| South Africa | 23–30 | New Zealand |
| Try: De Kock Pretorius Con: Pretorius (2) Pen: Pretorius (2) Drop: Pretorius | Try: Howlett MacDonald Mauger Penalty try Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (2) |
| Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 52,500[5] Referee: Dave McHugh (Ireland)1 |
| 17 August 2002 15:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
| South Africa | 33–31 | Australia |
| Try: Paulse (2) Greeff Russell Van Niekerk Con: Greeff (4) | Try: Kefu Cannon Rogers Con: Burke (2) Pen: Burke (3) Drop: Gregan |
| Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 63,000[6] Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand) |
1 McHugh had to be replaced in the 43rd minute after a drunk South African fan, Pieter van Zyl, ran onto the pitch and tackled him, leaving McHugh with a dislocated shoulder and having to be carried off on a stretcher. He was replaced by Chris White.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "New Zealand 12 - 6 Australia". ESPN.com.
- ^ "New Zealand 41 - 20 South Africa". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Australia 38 - 27 South Africa". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Australia 16 - 14 New Zealand". ESPN.com.
- ^ "South Africa 23 - 30 New Zealand". ESPN.com.
- ^ "South Africa 33 - 31 Australia". ESPN.com.
External links
- Tri Nations at Rugby.com.au