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How All Blacks can still lose the Tri Nations ahead of Wallabies and Los Pumas showdown
The All Blacks have effectively clinched the Tri Nations title thanks to their bonus-point victory over Argentina at Newcastle on Saturday night – barring a miracle in the final game of the tournament between the Pumas and the Wallabies.
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Ian Foster’s men, under intense pressure after two successive defeats, got revenge against the Pumas with a dominant 38-0 win in their final test of the year.
It leaves the All Blacks five points clear at the top of Tri Nations ladder, with two wins and two losses, leaving Argentina and Australia with monumental task if they are to claim the trophy.
However, there is still technically a mathematical chance, albeit a highly unlikely one, that both Argentina and Australia could still win the Tri Nations from New Zealand.
The All Blacks’ vastly superior points differential – thanks to two thrashings in their only two wins of the competition – along with three crucial bonus points, means they’re sitting pretty at the top of the table with 11 points and a massive point differential of 64.
Both Argentina and Australia are on six competition points in the ladder with negative point differentials.
Under the competition rules outlined by Tri Nations organisers SANZAAR, the first tiebreaker if two or more teams finish on equal competition points is determined by the team with the most wins in the series.
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If the first tiebreaker doesn’t provide a clear winner, the table is determined by the team with the most wins against the other team/s tied on the same points.
The third tiebreaker, and the one that will ultimately matter at the end of this year’s competition, is points differential.
Both Argentina and Australia have only one loss so far, but haven’t scored any bonus points in each of their first three games.
So even a bonus-point victory for either team in the final match of the competition may not be enough for both Argentina and Australia.
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In fact, Argentina will require a 93-point margin of victory over the Wallabies, while Australia will need a 101-point margin of victory, meaning the All Blacks have all but secured the second trophy of the Foster era.
The Pumas take on the Wallabies on Saturday at 9.45pm.
The All Blacks’ first two Bledisloe Cup tests of the year against the Wallabies – a draw in Wellington and a win in Auckland – were not part of the Tri Nations and have no bearing in the standings.
Tri Nations standings
1. All Blacks – 11 pts (2 wins, 2 losses, +64 points difference)
2. Los Pumas – 6 pts (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, -28 points difference)
3. Wallabies – 6 pts (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, -36 points difference)
Biggest defeats in rugby history
Argentina or Australia will require a historic win to steal the Tri Nations from the All Blacks.
Here are ten of the biggest defeats in rugby history:
Namibia – 142 points (142-0 to Australia, 2003 Australia World Cup)
Romania – 134 points (134-0 to England, Romanian 2001 End of Year Tour)
Uruguay – 131 points (134-3 to South Africa, Uruguayan 2005 Summer Tour)
Japan – 128 points (145-17 to New Zealand, 1995 South Africa World Cup)
Tonga – 102 points (102-0 to New Zealand in Tongan 2000 Summer Tour)
Italy – 101 points (101-0 to South Africa, Italian 1999 Summer Tour)
USA – 98 points (106-8 to England, American 1999 End of Year Tour)
Portugal – 95 points (108-13 to New Zealand, 2007 French World Cup)
Fiji – 91 points (91-0 to New Zealand, Fijian 2005 Summer Tour)
Samoa – 87 points (101-14 to New Zealand, Samoan 2008 Summer Tour)
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments