This was the first Tri Nations tournament after South Africa's 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, and they went into the competition as the top team in the IRB World Rankings (having ended a 175-week run for New Zealand).

[1] The All Blacks went into the series with a world record 29 successive home victories,[2][3] and South Africa with a 13 match winning streak.

[4] By the end of the tournament New Zealand had retaken top place in the IRB World Rankings.

Several of the sport's Experimental Law Variations (or ELVs) were trialled as part of the 2008 Tri Nations.

[8] Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia) Paul Marks (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Touch judges: Paul Marks (Australia) James Leckie (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) James Bolabiu (Fiji) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) James Bolabiu (Fiji) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)