2008 Australia rugby union tour

The 2008 Australia rugby union tour was a series of seven matches played by the Australia national rugby union team in November–December 2008. The tour was preceded by a match against All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup and closed with a match against Barbarian FC

2008 Australia rugby union tour
Coach(es)	Robbie Deans
Tour captain(s)	Stirling Mortlock
Summary	P W D L
Total	06 04 00 02
Test match	05 03 00 02
Opponent	P W D L
New Zealand	1 0 0 1
Italy	1 1 0 0
England	1 1 0 0
France	1 1 0 0
Wales	1 0 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour	2006
Next tour	2009

The Matches

Date	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Status
1 November	New Zealand	19-14	Australia	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Test match, Bledisloe Cup
8 November	Italy	20-30	Australia	Stadio Euganeo, Padua	Test match
15 November	England	14-28	Australia	Twickenham Stadium, London	Test match, Cook Cup
22 November	France	13-18	Australia	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris	Test match, Trophée des Bicentenaires
29 November	Wales	21-18	Australia	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Test match, James Bevan Trophy
3 December	Barbarian F.C.	11-18	Australia XV	Wembley Stadium, London	The Final Challenge, Olympic Rugby Centenary Celebration Match, Cornwall Cup

Matches

Bledisloe Cup match

A first match was played in Hong Kong against New Zealand. It was the fourth match between the two teams. Winning the match, the All Blacks tied the series (2–2) and retained the Bledisloe Cup.

1 November 2008

New Zealand	19–14	Australia
Try: Sivivatu 41' McCaw 82' Pen: Carter 12', 23', 31'	report	Try: Mitchell 8' Mitchell 25' Con: Giteau 8', 25'

So Kon Po, Hong Kong Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

New Zealand			Australia
Isaia Toeava	FB	15	FB	Adam Ashley-Cooper
Hosea Gear	W	14	W	Peter Hynes
Conrad Smith	C	13	C	Ryan Cross
Dan Carter	C	12	C	Stirling Mortlock (capt.)
Sitiveni Sivivatu	W	11	W	Drew Mitchell
Stephen Donald	FH	10	FH	Matt Giteau
Jimmy Cowan	SH	9	SH	Luke Burgess
Rodney So'oialo	N8	8	N8	Richard Brown
(capt.) Richie McCaw	F	7	F	George Smith
Jerome Kaino	F	6	F	Dean Mumm
Ali Williams	L	5	L	Nathan Sharpe
Brad Thorn	L	4	L	Mark Chisholm
Neemia Tialata	P	3	P	Al Baxter
Andrew Hore	H	2	H	Stephen Moore
Tony Woodcock	P	1	P	Benn Robinson
		Replacements
Keven Mealamu	H	16		Tatafu Polota-Nau
Greg Somerville	P	17	P	Matt Dunning
Anthony Boric	L	18	L	Phil Waugh
Adam Thomson	N8	19	F	David Pocock
Piri Weepu	SH	20		Sam Cordingley
Ma'a Nonu	FH	21	C	Berrick Barnes
Cory Jane	FB	22		Lachie Turner
		Coaches
Graham Henry				Robbie Deans

In Italy

Against Italy, the Wallabies suffer the strong play of Italian forwards and the strong defence of "azzurri", winning the match also in the last 20 minutes, thanks a try from Quade Cooper.

8 November 2008

Italy	20–30	Australia
Try: Mi. Bergamasco 29' Pen: Marcato 6' 11' Orquera 52' 59'	report	Try: Turner 7' Cooper 71' Con: Giteau 72' Pen: Mortlock 2' Giteau 17' 38' 47' 50' 78'

Stadio Euganeo, Padua Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Italy			Australia
Andrea Masi	FB	15	FB	Adam Ashley-Cooper
Kaine Robertson	W	14	W	Lachie Turner
Gonzalo Canale	C	13	C	Stirling Mortlock (capt.)
Gonzalo Garcia	C	12	C	Timana Tahu  62'
Mirco Bergamasco	W	11	W	Digby Ioane
45' Andrea Marcato	FH	10	FH	Berrick Barnes  13'
61' Pablo Canavosio	SH	9	SH	Luke Burgess
(capt.) Sergio Parisse	N8	8	N8	Richard Brown
Mauro Bergamasco	F	7	F	Phil Waugh
73' Josh Sole	F	6	F	Dean Mumm
Marco Bortolami	L	5	L	Hugh McMeniman  73'
Carlo Del Fava	L	4	L	Mark Chisholm
Carlos Nieto	P	3	P	Matt Dunning
50' Leonardo Ghiraldini	H	2	H	Stephen Moore
50' Salvatore Perugini	P	1	P	Ben Alexander  73'
		Replacements
50' Fabio Ongaro	H	16		Tatafu Polota-Nau
50' Matías Agüero	P	17	P	Sekope Kepu  43'
Tommaso Reato		18	L	Wycliff Palu  73'
73' Alessandro Zanni	F	19		David Pocock
61' Giulio Toniolatti	SH	20	FH	Matt Giteau  13'
45' Luciano Orquera	FH	21	C	Quade Cooper  62'
Matteo Pratichetti		22		James O'Connor
		Coaches
Nick Mallett				Robbie Deans

Against England

England offered a strong opposition in the first half, especially between the 35th and 39th minutes, and scored a try with Nick Easter and a penalty with Danny Cipriani, but the Aussies were always ahead thanks to the kicks of Giteau and Martlock, until a try of Adam Ashley-Cooper closed the match.

15 November 2008

England	14–28	Australia
Try: Easter 35' Pen: Cipriani 39' 50' Drop: Armitage 21'	report	Try: Aslhey-Cooper 68' Con: Giteau 69' Pen: Giteau 2' 6' 27' 31' 53' 58' Mortlock 64'

Twickenham, London Attendance: 81,000 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

England		Australia
Delon Armitage	FB	15	FB	Adam Ashley-Cooper
Paul Sackey	W	14	W	Peter Hynes
Jamie Noon	C	13	C	Ryan Cross
Riki Flutey	C	12	C	Stirling Mortlock (capt.)
Ugo Monye	W	11	W	Drew Mitchell
71' Danny Cipriani	FH	10	FH	Matt Giteau
66' Danny Care	SH	9	SH	Luke Burgess
59' Nick Easter	N8	8	N8	Richard Brown  45'
64' Tom Rees	F	7	F	George Smith
Tom Croft	F	6	F	Hugh McMeniman  80'
64' Tom Palmer	L	5	L	Nathan Sharpe
(capt.) Steve Borthwick	L	4	L	Mark Chisholm  65'
54'  66' Phil Vickery	P	3	P	Al Baxter
70' Lee Mears	H	2	H	Stephen Moore
34' to 42' 66' Andrew Sheridan	P	1	P	Benn Robinson
		Replacements
70' Dylan Hartley	H	16	F	Tatafu Polota-Nau  80'
32–42'  54' Matt Stevens	P	17		Matt Dunning
64' Simon Shaw	L	18	L	Dean Mumm  65'
59' James Haskell	N8	19	N8	Wycliff Palu  45'
64' Michael Lipman	F	20		Sam Cordingley
66' Harry Ellis	SH	21		Quade Cooper
71' Toby Flood	FH	22		Digby Ioane
		Coaches
Brian Ashton				Robbie Deans

Against France

As in the two previous matches, Wallabies obtain victory thanks a better second half. The try of Peter Hynes and a kick after France reached the 13–13 in the beginning of second Half. On French Sie, Skrela missed five kicks.

22 November 2008

France	13–18	Australia
Try: Penalty try 39' Con: Skrela 40' Pen: Skrela 48' Drop: Medard 51'	report	Try: Moore 31' Hynes 57' Con: Giteau 32' Pen: Giteau 28' 74'

Stade de France, Saint-Dennis Attendance: 70,000 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

France		Australia
Maxime Medard	FB	15	FB	Drew Mitchell
Julien Malzieu	W	14	W	Peter Hynes
78' Yannick Jauzion	C	13	C	Adam Ashley-Cooper  75'
35' Benoit Baby	C	12	C	Stirling Mortlock (capt.)
Cédric Heymans	W	11	W	Digby Ioane
75' to 80' David Skrela	FH	10	FH	Matt Giteau
77' Sebastien Tillous-Borde	SH	9	SH	Luke Burgess  64'
Imanol Harinordoquy	N8	8	N8	Wycliff Palu  59'
Fulgence Ouedraogo	F	7	F	George Smith
69' Thierry Dusautoir	F	6	F	Dean Mumm
42' (capt.) Lionel Nallet	L	5	L	Nathan Sharpe
Sébastien Chabal	L	4	L	Hugh McMeniman
58' Nicolas Mas	P	3	P	Al Baxter
56' Dimitri Szarzewski	H	2	H	Stephen Moore
Lionel Faure	P	1	P	Ben Alexander  64'
		Replacements
58' Benoit Lecouls	P	16		Tatafu Polota-Nau
56' Benjamin Kayser	H	17	P	Sekope Kepu  64'
42' Romain Millo-Chluski	L	18	N8	Mark Chisholm  59'
69' Louis Picamoles	F	19		David Pocock
77' Julien Tomas	SH	20	SH	Sam Cordingley  64'
35' Damien Traille	C	21	C	Quade Cooper  75'
78' Alexis Palisson	W	22		Lote Tuqiri
		Coaches
Marc Lièvremont				Robbie Deans

Against Wales

29 November 2008

Wales	21–18	Australia
Try: S. Williams 3', Byrne 30' Con: S. Jones 31 Pen: S. Jones 28', 78' Drop: S. Jones 67'	report	Try: Chisolm 13', Ioane 80' Con: Gietau 14' Pen: Gietau 46' Drop: Giteau 24'

Millennium, Cardiff Attendance: 74,000 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Wales		Australia
Lee Byrne	FB	15	FB	Drew Mitchell
Mark Jones	W	14	W	Peter Hynes  33'
Tom Shanklin	C	13	C	Ryan Cross
17' Jamie Roberts	C	12	C	Stirling Mortlock (capt.)  2'
Shane Williams	W	11	W	Digby Ioane
Stephen Jones	FH	10	FH	Matt Giteau
Gareth Cooper	SH	9	SH	Luke Burgess
61' Andy Powell	N8	8	N8	Richard Brown
Martyn Williams	F	7	F	Phil Waugh  62'
(capt.) Ryan Jones	F	6	F	Hugh McMeniman  69'
Alun Wyn Jones	L	5	L	Nathan Sharpe
Ian Gough	L	4	L	Mark Chisholm
Adam R. Jones	P	3	P	Al Baxter
Matthew Rees	H	2	H	Stephen Moore 27' to 37'  69'
Gethin Jenkins	P	1	P	Benn Robinson
		Replacements
Richard Hibbard		16	H	Adam Freier  69'
John Yapp		17		Matt Dunning
Luke Charteris		18	F	Dean Mumm  69'
61' Dafydd Jones	N8	19	F	George Smith  62'
Martin Roberts		20		Sam Cordingley
James Hook		21	C	Quade Cooper  2'
17' Andrew Bishop	C	22	W	Lote Tuqiri  33'
		Coaches
Warren Gatland				Robbie Deans

Final match with Barbarians

Australia was approached by the British Olympic Association to play the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium on 3 December 2008. The match formed part of the BOA's programme of events to celebrate the centenary of the first London Olympic Games where Australia defeated a Great Britain (Cornwall) side in the final 32 – 3. In 1908 France were the defending Olympic champions, but when they withdrew from the event, leaving just Australia and Great Britain to contest the gold medal, it was then County champions Cornwall who took to the field to represent the host nation. Cornwall had already been defeated in Australia's earlier 31-match tour. Cornwall's 1908 contribution was also further recognised by the presentation of the Cornwall Cup to the winning captain at Wembley, with the players of the respective sides receiving gold or silver commemorative medals. The game was the first rugby union fixture to take place in the new Wembley Stadium, the old stadium having been last used for Wales' last gasp 32–31 victory over England in the then Five Nations in 1999.

3 December 2008

Barbarians	11–18	Australia XV
Try: Collins 61 Pen: Montgomery 34' 38'	report	Try: Tuqiri 12' Turner 77' Con: O' Connor 13' Pen: O' Connoer 19' 22'

Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 44,000 Referee: Chris White

Barbarians		Australia XV
40' Percy Montgomery	FB	15	FB	James O'Connor  64'
Joe Rokocoko	W	14	W	Lote Tuqiri
50' Rico Gear	C	13	C	Ryan Cross  57'
Jean de Villiers	C	12	C	Adam Ashley-Cooper
Bryan Habana	W	11	W	Digby Ioane
Frans Steyn	FH	10	FH	Quade Cooper
59' Fourie du Preez	SH	9	SH	Brett Sheehan  50'
Schalk Burger	N8	8	N8	Richard Brown  46'
Richie McCaw	F	7	F	George Smith
Jerry Collins	F	6	F	Dean Mumm
50' Johann Muller	L	5	L	Hugh McMeniman
Bakkies Botha	L	4	L	Mark Chisholm
51' Census Johnston	P	3	P	Matt Dunning  46'
John Smit	H	2	H	Tatafu Polota-Nau  46'
32' Federico Pucciariello	P	1	P	Sekope Kepu
		Replacements
59' Mark Regan	R	16	R	Adam Freier  46'
32' Rodney Blake	R	17	R	Ben Alexander  46'
50' Chris Jack	R	18		Peter Kimlin
51' Nick Köster	R	19	R	David Pocock  46'
59' George Gregan	R	20	R	Luke Burgess  50'
50' Ollie Smith	R	21	R	Lachie Turner  57'
40' Shane Williams	R	22	R	Drew Mitchell  64'
		Coaches
				Robbie Deans

See also

• 2008 end-of-year rugby union tests