The 2011 Tri Nations Series was the sixteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks. It was also the last series in which only these three teams participated. In 2012, Argentina's Pumas joined this competition, which was rebranded as The Rugby Championship. This made this series the last under the Tri Nations name until 2020, when South Africa withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand between 9 September and 23 October 2011. As a result, the 2011 Tri Nations was shortened to include only six games instead of the usual nine. Each team played the other two countries twice rather than three times. Australia won the series for the first time in ten years.
Standings
Fixtures
All times are local
Australia vs South Africa, Sydney
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand) Vinny Munro (New Zealand) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
New Zealand vs South Africa, Wellington
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) James Leckie (Australia) Television match official: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand) Dan Carter reclaimed the career lead in Test points from Jonny Wilkinson of England with his first penalty, ending the evening with 1,204 career points.
New Zealand vs Australia, Auckland
Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Christie du Preez (South Africa) Television match official: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Australia, Durban
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Carlo Damasco (Italy) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
South Africa's starting XV had a total of 810 caps going into the match, an all-time record for the sport.
South Africa vs New Zealand, Port Elizabeth
Touch judges: Andrew Small (England) Carlo Damasco (Italy) Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa) This was the first time that a Tri Nations test was played in Port Elizabeth. Source: Fox Sports AllBlacks.com
Australia vs New Zealand, Brisbane
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Cobus Wessels (South Africa) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)