The All Blacks are Tri-Nations Champions for the 4th Time!
The All Blacks won the 2008 Tri-Nations over the weekend, giving them their fourth Tri-Nations' victory in four straight years. Captained by the All Blacks legend, Richie McCaw, the All Blacks fought extremely hard from a 17-7 deficit earlier in the match to win the Tri-Nations Cup. It was Daniel Carter's (fly-half-first five eight) finest night, converting some of the most complicated Tries in the far ends of the field; his kicking was sensational and almost magical and the key to the All Blacks success this year.
The All blacks started off the Tri-Nations season with an impressive win against South Africa, but was humbled by two straight loses- one against the South African Springboks and the other against the Australian Wallabies. But the All Blacks are known for creating things out of nothing. They went on to defeat Australian in Eden Park, Auckland, by 39-10, and also defeated the Springboks in their own soil, before their loyal supporters. A sign that the All Blacks were changing tactics strategies. They utilized Carter's kicks and the speed and agility of the backliners. Kicking for field possession proved effective against the Wallabies and the Springboks in their returning matches.
With the lose of the Springboks to Australia in South Africa, it was clear that the All Blacks was to face the Wallabies in the final match of the 2008 Tri-Nations Cup. The All Blacks have won the Tri-Nation cup three times in a row, but the Wallabies haven't won it in seven years. Such was the uniqueness of last weekend's final match. The All Blacks was expecting a tougher competition against the Wallabies, so the All Blacks' coach Graham Henry field his most powerful and effective players. It was a real battle of real warriors, and a do-or-die match for the Wallabies.
In the end, the All Blacks walked away with the Tri-Nation cup of 2008 after a narrow victory over the Wallabies, 28-24. Now that the Tri-Nation cup is over, the All Blacks players will now join their local rugby clubs to compete for the Air New Zealand Cup.
Coach Henry's Analysis of the All Blacks victory
The Springboks Trashed in their own Soil!
 They met twice in the beginning of the 2008 PhilipsTri-Nations series, they each won a match. Today in Newland, South Africa, the All Blacks mowed down the Springboks in one of their best performances in a long time, redeeming themselves from their lose to the Springboks back in New Zealand a month ago.
The All Black's coach fielded the same team that smashed the Australian Wallabies in Auckland, New Zealand, last week. Led by Weepu, the All Blacks dropped Kapa o Paongo, a Haka aimed to inspire the All Blacks and most of the time performed after being defeated by the same opponent in a previous encounter. Kapa o Paongo was a powerful statement to the Springboks that it was the All Blacks turn to win the battle. Now the task of putting actions to the words of the Haka rested on this 15 determined Kiwis, especially a number of notable players such as So'oialo who returned to his Number: 8 position after performing extremely well in their match against the Australian Wallabies, Richie McCaw who retained his position as a skipper (number 7) and remained the captain, Ma'a Nonu who also had retained his position as an inside center, and Richard Kahui, who had played very well in the match against the Wallabies and earned a place in the first line-up as the blind-side winger.
To counter the All Blacks line-up, Peter de Villiers, the South African coach, field one of his best teams since the beginning of the 2008 Philips Tri-Nations cup. He brought back Montgomery who have been playing his professional Rugby in Europe and tasked with the fly-half position while running his 100th international cups for the Springboks. Havana remained in the Wing.
A match that the All Blacks had to win and yes, they did! the All Blacks dominated the entire match and in the end, they walked away with a tremendous 19-0 win before the South African home fans. Daniel Carter's kicking was not as impressive as he did against the Wallabies, but he actually made up for it by scoring one of two All Blacks Tries. The first Try came from the out-side center, Conrad Smith.
For more analysis
Trinationsweb
Allblacksweb
South African Rugby
2008 Tri-Nations Fixtures and Results
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Australia (3 wins) |
New Zealand(4wins) |
South Africa (1 win) |
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vs. Springboks (win)
vs. All Blacks (win)
vs. All Blacks (lost) |
vs. Springboks (win)
vs. Springboks (lost)
vs. Wallabies (lost)
vs. wallabies (win)
vs. Springboks (win) |
vs. All Blacks (lost)
vs. All Blacks (win)
vs. Wallabies (lost)
vs. All Blacks (lost) |
SI sevens Qualifier
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OTHER WORLD RUGBY TOURS 2008 |
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 MAGNERS LEAGUE: The All Blacks winger, full black, and one of the most exciting players in New Zealand Rugby, is making a name for himself in the Magners Cup. Howlett joint the Irish Munster RFC after the 2007 World Cup, teaming up with his fellow Kiwis, Tipoki and Mafi. The trio have made a tremendous impact in the Munster team. Howlett scored two tries and assisted in at least two other tries in their 50-6 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons RFC on Sunday 14. He is unstoppable.
Magners League news | | 
