Wallaby fans weren’t exactly jumping out of their seats in excitement as the 2010 Tri-Nations series rolled around. The domestic series did little to provoke any thoughts of Wallaby resurgence against the might of the Boks and Blacks. We’d beaten Fiji, fine. The Perth defeat of England was quickly forgotten in the mire that was the loss to the Poms in Sydney. Then the game against Ireland in Brisbane was just downright boring. As it turned out, we managed to finish second in the Tri-Nations behind a completely dominant New Zealand team, with the Boks dire in third.
But who were the Wallabies that stood out? Could Quade Cooper’s early season form continue against the tougher competition, or would someone else stand up to be counted? All will be revealed as we unveil our Green and Gold Rugby Tri-Nations Player of the Year.
Match Five: Wallabies v. South Africa @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (24 July).
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Berrick Barnes.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Oliver, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger, Ryan Kankowsi, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, BJ Botha, John Smit (c), Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ Van Der Linde, Flip Van Der Merwe, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Juan De Jongh.
Australia 30 (Drew Mitchell, Will Genia tries; James O’Connor conv, pg; Matt Giteau 5 pg) defeated South Africa 13 (Jaque Fourie, Gurthrö Steenkamp tries; Morne Steyn pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – David Pocock
2 – Rocky Elsom
1 – Will Genia
Match Six: Wallabies v. New Zealand @ Etihad Stadium, Melbourne (31 July).
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Anthony Faingaa.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg.
New Zealand 49 (Mils Muliaina 2, Joe Rokocoko, Richie McCaw, Corey Flynn, Cory Jane tries; Dan Carter try, 4 conv,2 pg) defeated Australia 28 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell tries; Matt Giteau 2 conv, 3 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – David Pocock
2 – Adam Ashley-Cooper
1 – Rocky Elsom
Match Seven: Wallabies v. New Zealand @ AMI Stadium, Christchurch (7 August).
Australia: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Faingaa, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson. Replacements: James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Alby Mathewson.
New Zealand 20 (Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith tries; Dam Carter 2 conv, 2 pg) defeated Australia 10 (Kurtley Beale try; Matt Giteau conv, pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – David Pocock
2 – Kurtley Beale
1 – Nathan Sharpe
Match Eight: Wallabies v. South Africa @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (28 August).
Australia: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Ben McCalman, Rob Simmons.
South Africa: Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Flip Van Der Merwe, Jannie Du Plessis, John Smit (c), Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ Van Der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Butch James.
South Africa 44 (Juan Smith, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Pierre Spies, JP Pietersen tries; Francois Steyn try, pg; Morne Steyn 4 con, 2 pg; Butch James con) defeated Australia 31 (James O’Connor 2, Dean Mumm, Will Genia tries; Matt Giteau 4 conv, pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Kurtley Beale
2 – Nathan Sharpe
1 – David Pocock
Match Nine: Wallabies v. South Africa @ Vodacom Stadium, Bloemfontein (4 September).
Australia: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.
South Africa: Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Jannie Du Plessis, John Smit (c), Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ Van Der Linde, Flip Van Der Merwe, Ryan Kankowski, Gio Aplon.
Australia 41 (Rocky Elsom, Stephen Moore, Drew Mitchell tries; James O’connor try, conv; Kurtley Beale try, pg; Matt Giteau 4 conv, pg) defeated South Africa 39 (Jacque Fourie, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Jean De Villiers tries; Morne Steyn 3 conv, 6 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – David Pocock
2 – Kurtley Beale
1 – Nathan Sharpe
Match Ten: Wallabies v. New Zealand @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (11 September).
Australia: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Lachlan Turner, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Israel Dagg, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Victor Vito, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Jerome Kaino, Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade, Rene Ranger.
New Zealand 23 (Richie McCaw, Kieran Read tries; Piri Weepu 2 conv, 3 pg) defeated Australia 22 (James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper tries; Matt Giteau 3 pg; Kurtley Beale pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Kurtley Beale
2 – Ben McCalman
1 – Lachlan Turner
Some fairly consistent performers there and it shouldn’t be too hard to work out who the winner is, but let’s have a look at the table anyway:
| Place | Player | Pnts |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | David Pocock | 13 |
| 2nd | Kurtley Beale | 10 |
| 3rd | Nathan Sharpe | 4 |
| 4th | Rocky Elsom | 3 |
| 5th | Adam Ashley-Cooper | 2 |
| Ben McCalman | 2 | |
| 7th | Will Genia | 1 |
| Lachlan Turner | 1 |
It was a superb Tri-Nations for David Pocock and he deservedly wins the Green & Gold Rugby Wallaby Tri-Nations Player of the Year Award. Interestingly, there’s no sign of Quade Cooper, who was the star of the lead-in matches. Can he claw his way back into contention on the Spring Tour? Because that’s where we are heading next, to find out who the Green & Gold Rugby Wallaby Player of the Spring Tour will be.
