2000 Mandela Challenge Plate

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.^[1] 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.

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).^[2] 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.^[2] In March 2000, the proposal was agreed to by SARFU, with Nelson Mandela giving his blessing on the new contests award.^[3] 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.^[4] In May 2000, Nelson Mandela declined the invitation to the match,^[5] although he was interviewed live by Australian commentator Gordon Bray before kick off.^[6]

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.^[7][8] 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".^[1]

Notes:

• Troy Jaques (Australia) and Louis Koen (South Africa) made their Test debuts.^[10]
• Australia's 44 points was the most they had scored against South Africa in the pairs history.^[9]
• Stirling Mortlock's (Australia) 29 points scored was the highest tally achieved by a player against the Springboks,^[11] surpassing England's 27 points achieved by Rob Andrew (1994) and Jonny Wilkinson (2000).^[12]
• Australia equaled their highest win-streak in Test matches (10).^[13]