A factfile of the Tri-Nations competition - the southern hemisphere's Rugby Union championship, which gets underway in Sydney on when Australia and South Africa go head-to-head.

Fixtures:
23 July: Australia v South Africa, Sydney - 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
30 July: New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington - 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
5 August: New Zealand v Australia, Auckland - 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
13 August: South Africa v Australia, Durban - 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
20 August: South Africa v New Zealand, Port Elizabeth - 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
27 August: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane - 20.00 (10.00 GMT)

Points breakdown: Four points for a win; two points for a draw and one point for a loss by less than eight points or scoring at least four tries in a match.

Previous title holders:
10 - New Zealand
3 - South Africa
2 - Australia

Team records:
Biggest home win: Australia 49 South Africa 0
Biggest away win: South Africa 16 New Zealand 52
Most aggregate points in a match: New Zealand 55 South Africa 35
Fewest aggregate points in a match: South Africa 3 New Zealand 12

Individual records:
Most points: 426 - Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Most tries: 16 - Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
Most points in a match: 31 - Morné Steyn (South Africa)
Most tries in a match: 4 - Jongi Nokwe (South Africa)
Most caps: 48 - George Gregan (Australia)