2000 Mandela Challenge Plate

March 2026 2000 Mandela Challenge Plate Test 220px|frameless Docklands Stadium hosted the Test Mandela Challenge Plate Australia–South Africa Test Australia AUS 35px 44 South Africa RSA 31px 23 8 July 2000 Docklands Stadium Docklands, Melbourne Chris Latham (Australia) Player of the match Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand) 34,042 The 2000 Mandela Challenge Plate Test was a one-off rugby union Test match played between Australia and South Africa inaugurating their shared trophy known as the Mandela Challenge Plate.Gray Wynne 7 July 2000 Does anyone really want the Mandela Test? https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-does-anyone-re/194248244/ 37 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com The match was played on 8 July 2000 in Melbourne's Docklands Stadium. Australia won the Test match 44–23 in front of a 34,042 attendance. Background In November 1999, just weeks after Australia had won the Rugby World Cup, it was reported by The Sydney Morning Herald that Australia and South Africa were set to being a new annual contest from July the following year, pending a sign off from the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU).19 November 1999 Nelson's name may be on Cup https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-nelsons-name/194254828/ 41 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief John O'Neill stated that if the deal was agreed to, his goal would be to bring former South African President Nelson Mandela to Melbourne to launch the event, which had yet to have a name. In March 2000, the proposal was agreed to by SARFU, with Nelson Mandela giving his blessing on the new contests award.Growden Greg 23 March 2000 Judgment day for Brumbies https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-judgment-day-f/194255194/ 46 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com The match was scheduled for Docklands Stadium, a venue typically used for cricket and Australian Football League matches. Although Australia had played matches at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the past, ARU chief O'Neill stated that playing at Docklands Stadium was motivated by broadcast rights, the stadium facilities, and the capacity for Docklands Stadium to be converted to a rectangular venue.Cockerill Ian 19 November 1999 Wallabies join Docklands rush https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-wallabies-join-docklands-rush/194255328/ 2 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com In May 2000, Nelson Mandela declined the invitation to the match,Cockerill Ian 19 May 2000 Mandela declines invitation to Test https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mandela-declines-invitation-to-t/194255423/ 4 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com although he was interviewed live by Australian commentator Gordon Bray before kick off.30 June 2000 Mandela in live cross to Colonial https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-mandela-in-live-cross-to-colonia/194255510/ 4 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com In the lead up to the Test match, Australia had been on a nine-match win streak, one short of their record. This streak included a win against the Springboks in the Semi-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup; France in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final; and New Zealand in a record 21-point margin in front of a Test record crowd of 107,042 in the 1999 Tri Nations Series.Growden Greg 30 August 1999 Wallabies show true spirit https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-wallabies-show/194256518/ 25 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com 28 August 1999 Sport: Rugby Union Burke's boot beats All Black http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_union/432455.stm BBC Sport A day before the match, the Test was criticised by The Sydney Morning Herald, calling the match a "friendly" and criticising the Springboks for sending a "B team". Match 8 July 2000 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) AUS 44–23 Report RSA Mortlock (2) 35' m, 80' mLarkham 67' cKefu 69' cLittle 75' m Mortlock (2/5) 68', 70' Mortlock (5/6) 10', 17', 26', 29', 58' Swanepoel 14' mPaulse (2) 21' c, 32' m Koen (1/3) 22' Koen (2/2) 2', 39' Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 34,042Growden Greg 9 July 2000 Larkham's brilliance bounces Boks again https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-larkhams-brilliance-bounces-bok/194257006/ 14–15 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand) _australia99 _australia99 _australia99 _goldtop FFB600 FFB600 FFB600 144931 144931 Australia _sa99 _sa99 _sa99 _2 gold stripes 144931 144931 144931 FFFFFF 144931 South Africa FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Stirling MortlockOC 13Dan HerbertIC 12Rod KaferLW 11Joe RoffFH 10Stephen LarkhamSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Jim WilliamsOF 7 David WilsonBF 6 Mark ConnorsRL 5 John Eales (c)LL 4 David GiffinTP 3 Fletcher DysonHK 2 Michael FoleyLP 1 Richard HarrySubstitutes:HK 16Jeremy PaulPR 17Glenn PanohoBR 18Troy JaquesBR 19Toutai KefuSH 20Sam CordingleyCE 21Jason LittleCoach:Rod Macqueen FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14Breyton PaulseOC 13Robbie FleckIC 12Japie MulderLW 11Thinus DelportFH 10Louis KoenSH 9 Werner SwanepoelN8 8 André Vos (c)OF 7 André VenterBF 6 Rassie ErasmusRL 5 Albert van den BergLL 4 Krynauw OttoTP 3 Cobus VisagieHK 2 Charl MaraisLP 1 Robbie KempsonSubstitutes:HK 16John SmitPR 17Ollie le RouxBR 18Corné KrigeSH 19Joost van der WesthuizenCE 20De Wet BarryWG 21Chester WilliamsCoach:Nick Mallett Man of the Match: Chris Latham (Australia) Notes: Troy Jaques (Australia) and Louis Koen (South Africa) made their Test debuts.Australia v South Africa Nelson Mandela Challenge Test Melbourne, 2000 http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/23833.html ESPN dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140418074743/http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/23833.html 18 April 2014 Australia's 44 points was the most they had scored against South Africa in the pairs history. Stirling Mortlock's (Australia) 29 points scored was the highest tally achieved by a player against the Springboks,10 July 2000 Larkham again the Bok buster https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-larkham-again/194257284/ 26 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com surpassing England's 27 points achieved by Rob Andrew (1994) and Jonny Wilkinson (2000).26 June 2000 Wilkinson puts boot into Boks in great England win https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-wilkinson-puts/194256391/ 28 The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Media Newspapers.com Australia equaled their highest win-streak in Test matches (10).Wallabies crush Springboks in Mandela Challenge Test https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15345747/wallabies-crush-springboks-mandela-challenge-test 8 July 2000 ESPN References Category:2000 establishments in Australia Category:2000 establishments in South Africa Category:The Rugby Championship trophies Category:History of rugby union matches between Australia and South Africa Category:International rugby union competitions hosted by Australia Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate Category:2000s in Melbourne Category:2000 in rugby union Category:Australia national rugby union team matches Category:South Africa national rugby union team matches Category:History of rugby union Category:2000 in Australian sport Category:2000 in South African sport Mandela Challenge Plate