Tri Nations Championship 2005

Lore & Background

New Zealand successfully defended their Tri Nations title in 2005. Australia failed to win a game during the tournament.

In Their Own Story

The air at Ellis Park was thick with heat and hostility, a wall of sound pressing in from the stands. The scoreboard read a razor-thin margin, time ticking down in the dying moments of the final match. Tana Umaga, his jersey stained with the dust of Johannesburg, locked eyes with Richie McCaw. There were no words needed; the plan was etched into their muscle memory from months of grinding preparation. A scrum formed near the South African 22, the ground trembling under the weight of eight men on each side. The All Blacks drove forward, a singular black machine, breaking the opposition line just as the referee's whistle signaled the end of the era. As the final hooter blew, the realization hit: they had done it again. Perfect record. Grand Slam. The king of the south remained unchallenged.

Reader's Guide

The Tri Nations Series (1996–2011) was an annual rugby union competition between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In 2005, the three nations played each other three times, except in World Cup years when it reverted to a double round-robin.

Did You Know?

• New Zealand won the 2005 Tri Nations championship.
• Australia failed to win a game in the 2005 Tri Nations.
• The Tri Nations was renamed the Rugby Championship in 2012 after Argentina joined.