2020 Tri Nations Series Explained

2020 Tri Nations Series
Matches:6
Host:Australia
Countries:

Attendance:102605
Tries:22
Top Scorer: Nicolás Sánchez (43 points)
Most Tries:
Champion:New Zealand
Count:17

The 2020 Tri Nations Series was the seventeenth edition of the annual southern hemisphere competition, involving Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. On 16 October 2020, 2019 Rugby Championship winners and 2019 Rugby World Cup champions South Africa confirmed their withdrawal from the originally planned 2020 Rugby Championship due to South African government travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns related to COVID-19.[1] This meant that the competition temporarily returned to its previous Tri-Nations format - played across six weekends with each team playing each other twice.[2]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was moved to later in the year than usual. It had been mooted that all matches might be played in New Zealand,[3] however, in September 2020 it was announced that all matches would be held in Australia rather than in all of the competing nations.[4] [5]

Background

The competition was operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions, and known for sponsorship reasons as The Investec Tri Nations Series in New Zealand, The eToro Tri Nations Series in Australia, and The Personal Tri Nations Series in Argentina.

The format for the 2020 tournament should have returned to the previous Championship format which was used in 2018, after the shortening of the 2019 edition due to the World Cup. Each side would have played the others once at home and once away, giving a total of six matches each, and twelve in total. A win earns a team four league points, a draw two league points, and a loss by eight or more points zero league points. A bonus point is earned in one of two ways: by scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match, or losing by seven points or fewer. The competition winner is the side with the most points at the end of the tournament.[6]

The competition went through several schedule changes throughout 2020. The dates and venues for the original tournament were confirmed on 4 February, with South Africa being the final nation to announce their home Tests for the first half of the international season.[7] New Zealand Rugby,[8] the Argentine Rugby Union,[9] and Rugby Australia[10] announced their Test schedules for the 2020 Rugby Championship on 2 December 2019, 8 January and 30 January respectively. These dates ultimately changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a second schedule was released, where double-headed games would take place in Australia across six weekends. On 8 October, the schedule was revised to allow a quarantine period for New Zealand on their return home (to avoid a clash with Christmas), and therefore round six was split and the Australia v New Zealand game moved to 31 October.[11] Following the withdrawal of South Africa from the tournament, the competition reverted to its Tri-Nations format (not played since Argentina joined the competition in 2012) with the tournament played over six consecutive weekends with only one game played each round, rather than the originally planned double headers.

The global quarantining measures and need to maintain a bubble meant that match official neutrality was not possible, and the team of match officials came from Australia and New Zealand. All coaches were supportive of this necessary position - including the two Australia-New Zealand games which were fairly appointed in the same manner as that of the first two Bledisloe Cup matches.[12]

Other cups

The Bledisloe Cup, Mandela Challenge Plate, Freedom Cup and the Puma Trophy are contested annually during the Rugby Championship by select teams.

The Bledisloe Cup is traditionally contested by Australia and New Zealand in two home-and-away legs, with an additional leg in non-World Cup years, as is the case in 2020. However, due to the special circumstances of this edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bledisloe Cup was contested over four Tests: two stand-alone matches played in New Zealand in October in consecutive Sundays, and a further two to be hosted in Australia which will double as the first two Rugby Championship fixtures. New Zealand retained the trophy for an 18th consecutive year after winning Game 2 (27-7) and Game 3 (5-43); Australia won Game 4 (24-22), and Game 1 finished in a 16-all draw.[13]

Unlike the Bledisloe Cup, the Mandela Challenge Plate (contested between Australia and South Africa), the Freedom Cup (contested between New Zealand and South Africa) and the Puma Trophy (Argentina and Australia) are not decided by a third match. The teams play each other twice during the Rugby Championship (but only once in Rugby World Cup years), and the challengers are required to beat the holders in both games to win the plate or trophy.[14]

Overview

The 2020 Tri Nations Series had multiple elements of the unknown; they have come about as a result of many changes within the national setups,[15] [16] [17] as is often the case in a year post-World Cup.The 2020 tournament sees a mix of the outgoing World Champions and current World No. 2 ranked All Blacks, an expected resurgent Wallabies (World Ranking of 6th), and a Los Pumas side (ranked 11th) looking to build on their 2019 record and the preceding 2020 Super Rugby season, all clashing heads.

A number of senior players retired from International duty from all four of the sides at the conclusion of the 2019 season and new Head Coaches were appointed, including significantly new coaching setups at the All Blacks,[18] Wallabies[19] and Springboks. The Rugby Championship was the first testing ground for the three teams since their respective changes, and the first round of International Rugby for them all since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, after the July Internationals were either cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] [21]

Table

PlaceNationGamesPoints Try
Bonus
Losing
Bonus
Table
points
PlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainst
1 4 2 0 2 118 54 +64 2 1 11
2 4 1 2 1 56 84 –28 0 0 8
3 4 1 2 1 60 96 –36 0 0 8

Fixtures

Matchday 1

FB 15Dane Haylett-Petty
RW 14
OC 13Jordan Petaia
IC 12
LW 11Marika Koroibete
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Michael Hooper (c)
BF 6 Ned Hanigan
RL 5 Matt Philip
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22
CE 23
Coach:
Dave Rennie
FB 15
RW 14
OC 13Anton Lienert-Brown
IC 12
LW 11Caleb Clarke
FH 10Richie Mo'unga
SH 9
N8 8 Hoskins Sotutu
OF 7 Sam Cane (c)
BF 6
RL 5 Sam Whitelock
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22
CE 23
Coach:
Ian Foster
Assistant referees:
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Nic Berry (Australia)
Television match official:
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Notes:

Matchday 2

FB 15Tom Banks
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Hunter Paisami
LW 11
FH 10Reece Hodge
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Michael Hooper (c)
BF 6
RL 5 Matt Philip
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22
WG 23
Coach:
Dave Rennie
FB 15Jordie Barrett
RW 14Sevu Reece
OC 13Anton Lienert-Brown
IC 12
LW 11Rieko Ioane
FH 10Beauden Barrett
SH 9
N8 8 Ardie Savea
OF 7 Sam Cane (c)
BF 6
RL 5 Sam Whitelock
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FB 22
WG 23
Coach:
Ian Foster
Assistant referees:
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official:
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Notes:

Matchday 3

FB 15Beauden Barrett
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12
LW 11Caleb Clarke
FH 10Richie Mo'unga
SH 9
N8 8 Ardie Savea
OF 7 Sam Cane (c)
BF 6
RL 5 Sam Whitelock
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22
FB 23
Coach:
Ian Foster
FB 15
RW 14Bautista Delguy
OC 13Matías Orlando
IC 12Santiago Chocobares
LW 11Juan Imhoff
FH 10Nicolás Sánchez
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Marcos Kremer
BF 6 Pablo Matera (c)
RL 5
LL 4 Guido Petti
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
FL 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22Lucio Cinti
WG 23
Coach:
Mario Ledesma
Assistant referees:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Notes:

Matchday 4

FB 15
RW 14Bautista Delguy
OC 13Matías Orlando
IC 12Santiago Chocobares
LW 11
FH 10Nicolás Sánchez
SH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 Pablo Matera (c)
RL 5
LL 4 Guido Petti
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
FL 19
N8 20
SH 21Felipe Ezcurra
FB 22
WG 23
Coach:
Mario Ledesma
FB 15Tom Banks
RW 14
OC 13Jordan Petaia
IC 12Hunter Paisami
LW 11Marika Koroibete
FH 10Reece Hodge
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Michael Hooper (c)
BF 6 Ned Hanigan
RL 5 Matt Philip
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
FL 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22Noah Lolesio
WG 23
Coach:
Dave Rennie
Assistant referees:
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Notes:

Matchday 5

FB 15Emiliano Boffelli
RW 14Santiago Cordero
OC 13Juan Cruz Mallia
IC 12
LW 11Ramiro Moyano
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Facundo Isa
OF 7
BF 6 Pablo Matera (c)
RL 5
LL 4 Guido Petti
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
FL 19
FL 20
SH 21
FB 22
CE 23
Coach:
Mario Ledesma
FB 15Beauden Barrett
RW 14Jordie Barrett
OC 13
IC 12Jack Goodhue
LW 11
FH 10Richie Mo'unga
SH 9
N8 8 Ardie Savea
OF 7 Sam Cane (c)
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Scott Barrett
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22
FB 23
Coach:
Ian Foster
Assistant referees:
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Notes:

Matchday 6

FB 15Reece Hodge
RW 14Tom Wright
OC 13
IC 12Hunter Paisami
LW 11
FH 10James O'Connor
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Michael Hooper (c)
BF 6 Ned Hanigan
RL 5 Matt Philip
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
CE 22
WG 23
Coach:
Dave Rennie
FB 15Santiago Carreras
RW 14Bautista Delguy
OC 13Matías Orlando
IC 12Jerónimo de la Fuente (c)
LW 11Emiliano Boffelli
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Facundo Isa
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Matías Alemanno
TP 3
HK 2 Julián Montoya
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16José Luis González
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FB 22
CE 23Santiago Chocobares
Coach:
Mario Ledesma
Assistant referees:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Jordan Way (Australia)
Television match official:
Damon Murphy (Australia)
Notes:

Squads

NationHead coachCaptain
Mario LedesmaPablo Matera
Dave RennieMichael Hooper
Ian FosterSam Cane

Note: Ages, caps and clubs/franchises are of 31 October 2020 – the starting date of the tournament

Jerónimo De la Fuente was Argentina's captain for the final Test (Matchday 6) against Australia.

Argentina

On October 2, 2020 Argentina named a 45-man roster for the Rugby Championship.[23]

Australia

The Wallabies squad for the 2020 Rugby Championship was announced on 13 September 2020.[24] [25] [26]

New Zealand

All Blacks 38-man traveling squad for the 2020 Tri Nations Series.[27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: SANZAAR confirm 2020 Tri-Nations Series to kick-off 31 October. en-AU. Rugby.Com.Au. 2020-10-08.
  2. Web site: World Cup holders South Africa pull out of Rugby Championship. 16 October 2020. The 42. 16 October 2020.
  3. Web site: New Zealand poised to become sole host of 2020 Rugby Championship . The Guardian . 16 July 2020 . 21 July 2020.
  4. News: Australia to host trc 2020. en-AU. Super Rugby . 2020-09-11.
  5. News: The Rugby Championship draw: Every Wallabies, All Blacks match revealed. en-AU. Rugby.Com.Au. 2020-09-24.
  6. Web site: SANZAR - About The Rugby Championship. www.sanzarrugby.com. 14 September 2017.
  7. Web site: SA Rugby confirms venues for Springboks 2020 home Tests. 4 February 2020. www.springboks.rugby. 6 February 2020.
  8. Web site: All Blacks 2020 Test Schedule Announced. 2 December 2019. www.springboks.rugby. 6 February 2020.
  9. Web site: Fixture 2020 confirmado. 8 January 2020. www.springboks.rugby. 6 February 2020.
  10. Web site: Wallabies to return to Perth in 2020, 2021. 30 January 2020. www.rugby.com.au. 6 February 2020.
  11. News: Updated schedule for the 2020 Rugby Championship. en-AU. Rugby.Com.Au. 2020-10-08.
  12. News: Match officials announced for the Tri-Nations 2020. en-AU. World Rugby. 21 October 2020.
  13. Web site: 2021 Bledisloe Cup fixtures & draw.
  14. Web site: A short history of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate - SuperSport - Football. www.supersport.com.
  15. Web site: Ian Foster appointed All Blacks Head Coach. 11 December 2019. www.allblacks.com. 6 February 2020.
  16. Web site: Wallabies coach announcement. 21 January 2020. www.rugby.com.au. 6 February 2020.
  17. Web site: Bok coaching team confirmed. 24 January 2020. www.sarugby.co.za. 6 February 2020.
  18. Web site: Brad Mooar confirmed for All Blacks coaching role. 24 December 2019. www.allblacks.com. 6 February 2020.
  19. Web site: Wallabies Rennie welcome. 21 January 2020. www.rugby.com.au. 6 February 2020.
  20. Web site: World Rugby calls off summer internationals due to COVID-19. 15 May 2020. www.stuff.co.nz. 6 September 2020.
  21. Web site: Coronavirus: All Blacks test matches for July 'postponed' because of COVID-19. 15 May 2020. www.stuff.co.nz. 6 September 2020.
  22. Web site: New Zealand All Blacks 15-25 Argentina: Rugby Tri-Nations – as it happened. 14 November 2020. Guardian. 9 December 2020.
  23. News: Argentina innovate with notable Rugby Championship roster. en-AU. Americas Rugby News. 2020-10-26.
  24. News: Wallabies 2020 squad. Qantas Wallabies. 13 September 2020. 13 September 2020.
  25. News: Rugby Championship: Wallabies dealt huge Bledisloe blow with Toomua set for long time on the sidelines. Fox Sports. 20 October 2020. 26 October 2020.
  26. News: Wallabies call-up forgotten World Cup star. But will he play in Bledisloe III?. Qantas Wallabies. 26 October 2020. 26 September 2020.
  27. Web site: ALL BLACKS TRAVELLING SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA NAMED. All Blacks. 20 October 2020 . 20 October 2020.