Argentina's proposed addition to the Tri Nations tournament marks an evolutionary shift in southern hemisphere rugby's premier international showpiece. In just 14 years, Tri Nations organisers SANZAR - a consortium formed by the international co-operation of domestic rugby union governing bodies from Australian, New Zealand and South Africa - has become arguably the game's foremost competition outside of the World Cup.
Indeed, Tim Horan, the former Australia centre, yesterday described the Tri Nations as "harder to win than the World Cup". However, the Pumas - likely to enter as of 2012 - will not be expected to win the expanded Four Nations competition for some time. In truth, Argentina may never match any of the present contingents' victory tallies. From the first tournament in 1996 through to 2005, the three teams played each other twice on a home-and-away basis. Since then, each team has played the others three times, except in the Rugby World Cup year of 2007 when the series reverted to a double round-robin.
"It worked fine with two rounds and you couldn't get a ticket for about three of four years, but the three rounds haven't been successful," remarked the former Australia coach Eddie Jones. "They've not been played in front of full houses recently which is amazing. Argentina's inclusion can only benefit the competition." Nine-time winners New Zealand were the inaugural champions in 1996, and defended their title the following year.
All three teams found glory during the competition's first six years, but it is the All Blacks who have dominated. After Australia matched their two-in-a-row achievement - their only Tri Nations success - at the turn of the millennium, the All Blacks have responded by winning six titles in the last eight years. South Africa interrupted their domination in 2004, but New Zealand responded by becoming the first team to win three successive Tri Nations titles in 2007.
Ironically, it was the Springboks who interrupted their quest for five straight wins in Hamilton, New Zealand on Saturday. "South Africa have been the outstanding side," said Jones. "They are the only side in the world who are happier without the ball."