All Blacks not letting go of title
The All Blacks have effectively clinched the Tri Nations title thanks to their bonuspoint victory over Argentina at Newcastle on Saturday night – barring a miracle in the final game of the tournament between the Pumas and the Wallabies.
Ian Foster’s men, under intense pressure after two successive defeats, got revenge against the Pumas with a 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 a 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.
Both 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.
In fact, Argentina will require a 93-point margin of victory over the Wallabies, while Australia will need a 101-point margin of victory.
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. Lospumas – 6 pts (1 win, 1draw, 1 loss, -28 points difference)
3. Wallabies – 6 pts (1 win, 1draw, 1 loss, -36 points difference)
Biggest defeats in rugby history
Argentina or Australia will require a historic win to steal thetri Nations from the Allblacks.
Here are ten of the biggest defeats inrugby history: Namibia – 142 points (142-0 to Australia, 2003 Australia World Cup)
Romania – 134 points (134-0 to England, Romanian 2001End of Year Tour)
Uruguay – 131 points (134-3 to Southafrica, Uruguayan 2005Summertour)
Japan – 128 points (145-17 tonewzealand, 1995 Southafrica World Cup)
Tonga – 102 points (102-0 tonewzealand in Tongan2000summertour)
Italy – 101 points (101-0 to Southafrica, Italian 1999 Summertour)
USA– 98 points (106-8 to England, American 1999 Endof Year Tour)
Portugal – 95 points (108-13 tonewzealand, 2007 French World Cup)
Fiji – 91 points (91-0 tonewzealand, Fijian 2005 Summertour)
Samoa– 87 points (101-14 tonewzealand, Samoan 2008Summertour).