2008 Tri Nations Championship

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Australia’s Wallabies, New Zealand’s All Blacks and South Africa’s Springboks make up the Tri-Nation Series international rugby union.

The competition is ruled by SANZAR, an organization formed by the rugby governing bodies of the Australia Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the South Africa Rugby Union.

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The series, which is played on a home and away basis, was originally set up so that each team played the other teams twice. That was changed in 2006 so that the teams would play each other three times.

However, for the 2007 season, the Tri-Nation schedule has returned to a six-test competition to give the teams extra time to prepare for the World Cup that is being held in France. The competition will return to a nine test series in 2008.

The New Zealand All Blacks won the first tournament in 1996. The All Blacks have captured seven out of the 11 series played. They also won in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006.

South Africa captured titles in 1998 and 2004 while Australia won back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001.

Tri-Nations Series games played between New Zealand and Australia also determine the winner of the Bledisloe Cup each year.

Since the series began in 1996, each team has played 46 games. The New Zealand All Blacks have won 32 games and lost only 14. The Australian Wallabies and the South African Springboks each have won 18 games, lost 14 and drawn one.

Tri-Nations Series competition usually begins in July and ends in September. But, because of the World Cup, which starts in early September, the 2008 matches will begin in June. That changes gives the teams a seven-week break before the World Cup.

A points system is used to determine the winner of the series. Four points are awarded for a win, two for a draw and none for a loss. Teams can earn bonus points by scoring four or more tries in a match, regardless of the final result, or by losing by seven points or fewer. The team with the most points at the end of the season is declared the champion.

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