Number of teams 3 Matches played 7 | Host country United Kingdom Tries scored 56 (8 per match) | |
 | ||
Winner New Zealand (1st title) Attendance 155,143 (22,163 per match) | ||
The majority of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations was played in Great Britain and Australasia. The final was played between Australia and New Zealand at Elland Road on Saturday 26 November. New Zealand won the match 24-0 and were crowned 2005 Tri-Nations champions, breaking Australia's 27-year undefeated international tournament record.
Contents
The tournament was officially known as the 2005 Gillette Tri-Nations due to sponsorship from Gillette.
Participating teams
Each team was to play the other three twice during the round robin tournament. The top two finishing teams would then contest the final.
Officials
One referee from each participating nation was appointed to control matches in the Tri-Nations:
Venues
The games were played at the following venues in Australia, New Zealand and England. The tournament final was played in Leeds.
Tournament matches
AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt King · 3. Mark Gasnier · 4. Brent Tate · 5. Timana Tahu · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Andrew Johns · 8. Petero Civoniceva · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Steve Price · 11. Luke O'Donnell · 12. Craig Fitzgibbon · 13. Ben Kennedy
Interchange: 14. Craig Gower · 15. Jason Ryles · 16. Andrew Ryan · 17. Trent Waterhouse
Coach: Wayne Bennett
NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Jake Webster · 3. Paul Whatuira · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Nigel Vagana · 7. Stacey Jones · 8. Paul Rauhihi · 9. Lance Hohaia · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. David Kidwell · 12. Frank Pritchard · 13. Louis Anderson
Interchange: 14. David Faiumu · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Nathan Cayless · 17. David Solomona
Coach: Brian McClennan
NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Jake Webster · 3. Paul Whatuira · 4. Shontayne Hape · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Nigel Vagana · 7. Stacey Jones · 8. Paul Rauhihi · 9. Motu Tony · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. David Kidwell · 12. David Solomona · 13. Louis Anderson
Interchange: 14. David Faiumu · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Iafeta Palea'aesina · 17. Tony Puletua
Coach: Brian McClennan
AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt King · 3. Mark Gasnier · 4. Matt Cooper · 5. Brent Tate · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Andrew Johns · 8. Petero Civoniceva · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Steve Price · 11. Luke O'Donnell · 12. Craig Fitzgibbon · 13. Ben Kennedy
Interchange: 14. Trent Barrett · 15. Jason Ryles · 16. Mark O'Meley · 17. Trent Waterhouse
Coach: Wayne Bennett
GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Leon Pryce · 6. Kevin Sinfield · 7. Paul Deacon · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Keiron Cunningham · 10. Jamie Peacock (c) · 11. Lee Gilmour · 12. Paul Johnson · 13. Gareth Ellis
Interchange: 14. Rob Burrow · 15. Adrian Morley · 16. Chev Walker · 17. Nick Fozzard
Coach: Brian Noble
NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Jake Webster · 3. Paul Whatuira · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Nigel Vagana · 7. Stacey Jones · 8. Paul Rauhihi · 9. Motu Tony · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. David Kidwell · 12. David Solomona · 13. Awen Guttenbeil
Interchange: 14. Louis Anderson · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Frank Pritchard · 17. Ali Lauitiiti
Coach: Brian McClennan
GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Leon Pryce · 6. Iestyn Harris · 7. Paul Deacon · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Keiron Cunningham · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock (c) · 12. Paul Johnson · 13. Kevin Sinfield
Interchange: 14. Lee Gilmour · 15. Chev Walker · 16. Jamie Thackray · 17. Mickey Higham
Coach: Brian Noble
AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt King · 3. Mark Gasnier · 4. Matt Cooper · 5. Brent Tate · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Scott Prince · 8. Petero Civoniceva · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Steve Price · 11. Luke O'Donnell · 12. Craig Fitzgibbon · 13. Ben Kennedy
Interchange: 14. Trent Barrett · 15. Jason Ryles · 16. Mark O'Meley · 17. Willie Mason
Coach: Wayne Bennett
GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Leon Pryce · 6. Iestyn Harris · 7. Paul Deacon · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Keiron Cunningham · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock (c) · 12. Paul Johnson · 13. Gareth Ellis
Interchange: 14. Mickey Higham · 15. Chev Walker · 16. Jamie Thackray · 17. Richard Horne
Coach: Brian Noble
NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Jake Webster · 3. Shontayne Hape · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Nigel Vagana · 7. Stacey Jones · 8. Paul Rauhihi · 9. Motu Tony · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. David Kidwell · 12. David Solomona · 13. Awen Guttenbeil
Interchange: 14. David Faiumu · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Louis Anderson · 17. Ali Lauitiiti
Coach: Brian McClennan
GREAT BRITAIN
1. Leon Pryce · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Gareth Raynor · 6. Iestyn Harris · 7. Richard Horne · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Keiron Cunningham · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock (c) · 12. Paul Johnson · 13. Gareth Ellis
Interchange: 14. Mickey Higham · 15. Chev Walker · 16. Jamie Thackray · 17. Kevin Sinfield
Coach: Brian Noble
AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt King · 3. Mark Gasnier · 4. Matt Cooper · 5. Brent Tate · 6. Trent Barrett · 7. Craig Gower · 8. Petero Civoniceva · 9. Danny Buderus (c) · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Luke O'Donnell · 12. Craig Fitzgibbon · 13. Ben Kennedy
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Willie Mason · 16. Mark O'Meley · 17. Trent Waterhouse
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Final
The historic win by the Kiwis over an Australian 17 containing only 3 Queensland players and one player from the previous month's 2005 NRL grand final put an end to the Kangaroos' dominance in international rugby league. It was the first time Australia, hot favourites for the match, had failed to win a series or tournament since France defeated them in both Tests of the 1978 Kangaroo tour.
The win by New Zealand was the first time the Kiwis had beaten Australia in a test series or tournament (not including one-off test wins in 1971, 1987 and 1998) since 1952. Australian coach Wayne Bennett resigned from the national coaching post just over a week after the final.
Non-series tests
During the series, Australia and New Zealand played additional Tests against France. This was the first time the two teams had met in a test match since Australia's 74-0 win in Béziers in the last game of the 1994 Kangaroo tour.
Australia: 1 Anthony Minichiello, 2 Eric Grothe, Jr., 3 Mark Gasnier, 4 Matt Cooper, 5 Brent Tate, 6 Scott Prince, 7 Craig Gower (c), 8 Jason Ryles, 9 Craig Wing, 10 Mark O'Meley, 11 Ben Creagh, 12 Willie Mason, 13 Trent Waterhouse
Interchange: 14 Steve Price, 15 Petero Civoniceva, 16 Andrew Ryan, 17 Matt King
France: 1 Renaud Guigue, 2 Frederic Zitter, 3 Christophe Moly, 4 Jerome Hermet, 5 Olivier Charles, 6 Laurent Frayssinous, 7 Julien Rinaldi, 8 David Ferriol, 9 David Berthezene, 10 Jerome Guisset, 11 Aurelien Cologni, 12 Jamal Fakir, 13 Gregory Mounis
Interchange: 14 Maxime Greseque, 15 Adel Fellous, 16 Jean Christophe Borlin, 17. Sebastien Raguin
For this match, Craig Gower was given the honour of captaining Australia for the first time.
Australia 44 (A Minichiello 2, T Waterhouse 2, M Cooper, S Prince, C Gower, W Mason tries; S Prince 6 goals) defeated France 12 (L Frayssinous, M Gresqueu tries; L Frayssinous 2 goals)
Other Game
New Zealand played a midweek match against England "A" which did not count as a test match. Halftime was 12-all.