With the Tri-Nations getting underway in Sydney today, we decided to have a look at five of the best tries ever scored in the competition’s 15-year history.
Christian Cullen, New Zealand v Australia 2000
Commentators often talk of tries that come straight from the training ground, but this one looks like it was formulated in some hi-tech laboratory, such was the amount of passes and intricate moves involved.
Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and three stocky forwards staging an elaborate decoy were all involved before Christian Cullen finished with ease.
Cullen used to be the highest try-scorer in All-Black history before being usurped by Doug Howlett, who went on to become a massive success at Munster, unlike his injury-riddled predecessor.
Ricky Januarie, South Africa v New Zealand 2008
A victory over the All-Blacks in Dunedin was one of the highlights of an otherwise forgettable 2008 Tri-Nations for the Springboks, who probably couldn’t care less as they had captured the ultimate prize in France a year earlier.
The win was sealed thanks to an inspired piece of skill and improvisation by Ricky Januarie with only five minutes remaining. A chip and chase over the covering defence was sealed with a swan dive that would make Chris Ashton blush.
Christian Cullen, New Zealand v Australia 1997
Yes, it’s Christian Cullen again, but you could hardly argue that this effort doesn’t merit inclusion. At the time, Cullen was only 21 and beginning to make the world sit up and take notice with a string of scintillating displays for both the Hurricanes and the All-Blacks.
On this occasion, Cullen ran a full 80 metres to touch down in front of the posts, zigging and sagging through a series of Wallaby defenders to score the opening try as the All-Blacks blitzed Australia to lead 36-0 at half-time in Dunedin. The way he handles the last three defenders is sheer genius.
James O’Connor, Australia v New Zealand 2010
Having pounded the All-Black try-line in the closing minutes of the Bledisloe Cup encounter between the sides last October, Australia finally broke through with a try from young starlet James O’Connor after the game had entered injury time.
O’Connor was coolness personified as he stepped between two opposition defenders to cross the line and although there have been more aesthetically pleasing tries down the years, the manner of O’Connor’s try and the fact that it ended a ten-game winning streak against the All-Blacks made it particularly significant.
O’Connor’s try actually only levelled the scores, but he showed nerves of steel to tap over the subsequent conversion and seal a dramatic victory.
Australia v New Zealand highlights 2000
OK, we’re cheating a little as there are several tries in this segment, but we’re sure you won’t mind a four-minute highlight clip from a match that was described as the ‘greatest game of rugby ever played’ and a ‘test match made in heaven’.
In a game played in front of a world record 110,000 people in Sydney, the All-Blacks had scored three tries in the first five minutes, but the Wallabies staged a remarkable comeback to draw level by half-time.
The hosts looked set to claim a memorable and epic victory until that man Jonah Lomu had the last laugh.
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