After three successful tests against Italy and France, the Wallabies prepared themselves for the Tri-Nations series. In what would be a largely disappointing series, the Wallabies would bring home the wooden spoon, again, winning just the one game – against the World Champion Springboks in Brisbane.
But who played well for the good guys? Will King George retain his place at the top of the G&GR Wallaby Player of the Year leader board? There’s only one way to find out. Read on!
Match Four: Wallabies v New Zealand @ Eden Park, Auckland (18 July).
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachlan Turner, Stirling Mortlock [c], Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O’Connor.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw [c], Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Piri Weepu.
New Zealand 22 (Richie McCaw try; Stephen Donald conv, 5 pg) defeated Australia 16 (Berrick Barnes try; Matt Giteau conv, 3 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – George Smith
2 – Stephen Moore
1 – James Horwill
Match Five: Wallabies v South Africa @ Newlands Stadium, Cape Town (8 August).
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachlan Turner, Stirling Mortlock [c], Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O’Connor.
South Africa: Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie Du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit [c],Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtarira. Replacements: Jannie Du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ricky Januarie, Adi Jacobs, Ruan Pienaar.
South Africa 29 (Victor Matfield try; More Steyn 7 pg; dg) defeated Australia 17 (Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Matt Giteau try, 2 conv; Berrick Barnes dg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Benn Robinson
2 – George Smith
1 – Drew Mitchell
Match Six: Wallabies v New Zealand @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (22 August).
Australia: James O’Connor, Lachlan Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith [c], Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw [c], Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Joe Afoa, Ma’a Nonu, Stephen Donald, Rodney So’oialo
New Zealand 19 (Ma’a Nonu try; Dan Carter conv, 4 pg) defeated Australia 18 (Matt Giteau 6 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – George Smith
2 – Rocky Elsom
1 – Benn Robinson
Match Seven: Wallabies v South Africa @ Subiaco Oval, Perth (29 August).
Australia: James O’Connor, Lachlan Turner, Ryan Cross, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith [c], Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, David Pocock, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell.
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie Du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit [c],Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtarira. Replacements: Chillieboy Ralepelle, Jannie Du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Adi Jacobs,Francois Steyn.
South Africa 32 (Bryan Habana 2, Fourie Du Preez, Jaque Fourie tries; Morne Steyn 3 conv, 2 pg) defeated Australia 25 (Lachie Turner try; Matt Giteau 2 tries; 2 conv, 2 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Benn Robinson
2 – Mark Chisholm
1 – Rocky Elsom
Match Eight: Wallabies v South Africa @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (5 September).
Australia: James O’Connor, Lachlan Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, George Smith [c], David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes.
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar, Odwa Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie Du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit [c],Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtarira. Replacements: Dannie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Adi Jacobs,Francois Steyn.
Australia 21 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor tries; Matt Giteau conv, 2 pg, dg) defeated South Africa 6 (Morne Steyn pg, dg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Benn Robinson
2 – David Pocock
1 – Will Genia
Match Nine: Wallabies v New Zealand @ Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington (19 September).
Australia: James O’Connor, Lachlan Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, George Smith [c], David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Corey Jane, Isaia Toeava, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw [c], Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Aled de Malmanche, Joe Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So’oialo, Brendon Leonard, Hosea Gear.
New Zealand 33 (Joe Rokocoko, Cory Jane, Ma’a Nonu tries; Dan Carter 3 conv, 4 pg) defeated Australia 6 (Matt Giteau pg; Berrick Barnes dg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Adam Ashley-Cooper
2 – Benn Robinson
1 – Will Genia
Looking at the Tri Nations in isolation we can discover our Green & Gold Rugby Wallaby Player of the Tri-Nations.
| Place | Player | Points |
| 1st | Benn Robinson | 12 |
| 2nd | George Smith | 8 |
| 3rd | Adam Ashley-Cooper | 3 |
| Rocky Elsom | 3 | |
| 5th | Will Genia | 2 |
| David Pocock | 2 | |
| Stephen Moore | 2 | |
| Mark Chisholm | 2 | |
| 9th | James Horwill | 1 |
| Drew Mitchell | 1 |
How about a progress tally however for the overall winner?
No, not a chance. I’m going to hold the suspence over for our next update in a couple of days when we look back at the Spring Tour and discover the Official Green & Gold Rugby Wallaby Player of the Year!
