Will the 3N Thrillers Continue?

With today's tense 16-9 Wallabies win over the Springboks, the 2008 Tri-Nations series is off to a screaming start. Three matches in, each side has won one, and two sides have lost one as well. The average margin of victory so far is less than seven points per match, with two of the three matches played so far ending with a converted try or less between the sides. In other words, everything's still up for grabs.

Sounds great. The only downside is that if the tournament doesn't stay this tight, it will risk dragging on. Since its inception in 1996, the tournament has typically included six matches, with each side (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) playing a home and away match against each of the other two (a "double round-robin" format). In 2006, the tournament was expanded to nine matches, with each side playing three matches against its two foes. New Zealand strolled that year, clinching the tournament with three matches to go and losing only the final match of the series. It suffices to say that sort of timing can take the excitement out of the last few weeks of the event.

In 2007, the series went back to the old six-match format to make room for the Rugby World Cup, but this year it's back to the marathon nine-match format. This year's series began 5 July, and will end more than two months later on 13 September. If these thrillers keep coming and the wins keep getting split up, Armchair Playmaker says bring it on. But if the winner is known in say, mid-August...well, let's just hope this one goes down to the last match of the series, just as it did last year.