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. 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). 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. 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. In May 2000, Nelson Mandela declined the invitation to the match, although he was interviewed live by Australian commentator Gordon Bray before kick off.
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. 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
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'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, surpassing England's 27 points achieved by Rob Andrew (1994) and Jonny Wilkinson (2000). Australia equaled their highest win-streak in Test matches (10).
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