The 2000 end-of-year tests, known in the northern hemisphere as the 2000 Autumn Internationals, was a series of international rugby union matches played in November and December 2000. The hosts were Six Nations Championship countries England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, and Southern Hemisphere side Argentina. Argentina also participated as a touring side, along with Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Samoa, South Africa and the USA.
France and New Zealand contested the Dave Gallaher Trophy for the first time, in a two-match series. New Zealand took a 1–0 series lead in the first match at the Stade de France in Paris, with France levelling the series after a 42–33 win in Marseille – the first ever test match in the Stade Vélodrome. New Zealand won the trophy on account of their higher aggregate score over the two matches.
The match between England and Australia saw the Six Nations champions play the Tri-Nations champions. England won thanks to an injury-time try by Dan Luger, and claimed the Cook Cup for the first time. It was England's first victory over Australia in the professional era.
Days later, England's players went on strike over a dispute with the Rugby Football Union over pay. This nearly led to coach Clive Woodward selecting a second-choice squad for the following weekend's match against Argentina, but the disagreement was ultimately resolved and the strike ended in time for the affected players to be selected.[1]
Matches
Week 1
| Saturday 4 November 2000 15:00 GMT |
Ireland  | 78–9 |  Japan |
| Try: Clohessy Henderson Hickie (3) Howe (2) Murphy O'Driscoll (2) Stringer Con: O'Gara (10) Pen: O'Gara | Report | Pen: Hirose (3) |
| Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales) |
| Saturday 4 November 2000 19:45 (18:45 GMT) |
France  | 13–18 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
| Try: Galthié Con: Lamaison Pen: Lamaison (2) | Report | Pen: Burke (6) |
| Stade de France, Paris Attendance: 68,000 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) |
| Saturday 4 November 2000 18:45 GMT |
Scotland  | 53–6 |  United States |
| Try: Leslie (2) Paterson Pountney Townsend (2) Con: Townsend (4) Pen: Townsend (5) | Report | Pen: Wells (2) |
| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 35,638 Referee: Pablo Deluca (Argentina) |
- First test match between Scotland and the United States.
Week 2
| Saturday 11 November 2000 14:00 (13:00 GMT) |
Italy  | 17–22 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada |
| Try: Dallan Pen: Mazzariol (3) Pez | Report | Try: Wirachowski Con: Barker Pen: Barker (4) Drop: Barker |
| Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini, Rovigo Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Didier Mené (France) |
| Saturday 11 November 2000 14:00 GMT |
| Scotland | 9–30 | Australia |
| Pen: Townsend (3) | Report | Try: Burke Latham Roff Con: Burke (3) Pen: Burke (3) |
| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 64,103 Referee: Chris White (England) |
- Australia retain the Hopetoun Cup.
| Saturday 11 November 2000 16:00 GMT |
Wales  | 50–6 |  Samoa |
| Try: Bateman Gough Taylor Shane Williams (2) penalty try Con: Arwel Thomas (4) Pen: Arwel Thomas (4) | Report | Pen: Patu Sanft |
| Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 65,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
| Saturday 11 November 2000 19:45 (18:45 GMT) |
| France | 26–39 |  New Zealand |
| Try: Pelous Bernat-Salles Con: Lamaison (2) Pen: Lamaison (4) | Report | Try: Cullen Howlett Con: Mehrtens Pen: Mehrtens (9) |
| Stade de France, Paris Attendance: 78,531 Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia) |
| Sunday 12 November 2000 19:45 (22:45 GMT) |
Argentina  | 33–37 |  South Africa |
| Try: Arbizu Contepomi Orengo Con: Quesada (3) Pen: Quesada (4) | Report | Try: Andrews Fleck Paulse (2) Van Straaten Con: Montgomery (3) Pen: Van Straaten (2) |
| River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Scott Young (Australia) |
Week 3
| Saturday 18 November 2000 14:00 (13:00 GMT) |
| Italy | 37–17 |  Romania |
| Try: Caione (2) Lo Cicero Martin Pez Raineri Troncon Con: Preo | Report | Try: Ghioc Septar Con: Mitu (2) Pen: Mitu |
| Stadio Ciro Vigorito, Benevento Attendance: 3,260 Referee: Joël Jutge (France) |
| Saturday 18 November 2000 14:30 GMT |
England  | 22–19 | Australia |
| Try: Luger 80+8' c Con: Wilkinson 80+9' Pen: Wilkinson 7', 13', 27', 55' Drop: Wilkinson 40+2' | Report | Try: Burke 42' c Con: Burke 43' Pen: Burke 19', 23', 46' |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 74,000 Referee: André Watson (South Africa) |
- England win the Cook Cup.
| Saturday 18 November 2000 19:45 (18:45 GMT) |
| France | 42–33 | New Zealand |
| Try: Galthié Garbajosa Magne Con: Lamaison (3) Pen: Lamaison (5) Drop: Lamaison (2) | Report | Try: Howlett Marshall Slater Con: Mehrtens (3) Pen: Mehrtens (4) |
| Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 76,000 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
- Series drawn 1–1. New Zealand won the inaugural Dave Gallaher Trophy.
| Sunday 19 November 2000 14:00 GMT |
| Ireland | 18–28 | South Africa |
| Try: Hickie Howe Con: O'Gara Pen: O'Gara (2) | Report | Try: Krige Van der Westhuizen Venter Con: Montgomery Van Straaten Pen: Montgomery (2) Van Straaten |
| Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Steve Lander (England) |
Week 4
| Saturday 25 November 2000 14:30 |
| Italy | 19–56 | New Zealand |
| Try: Lo Cicero Saviozzi Pen: Pez (3) | Report | Try: Cribb (2) Howlett Marshall Reihana (2) Spencer Tiatia Con: Spencer (5) Pen: Spencer (2) |
| Stadio Marassi, Genova Attendance: 44,500 Referee: Robert Davies (Wales) |
| Saturday 25 November 2000 14:30 |
| England | 19–0 | Argentina |
| Try: Cohen Con: Wilkinson Pen: Wilkinson (3) | Report |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland) |
| Sunday 26 November 2000 15:00 GMT |
| Wales | 13–23 | South Africa |
| Try: Gibbs Con: Neil Jenkins Pen: Neil Jenkins Arwel Thomas | Report | Try: Van der Westhuizen, Paulse Con: Van Straaten (2) Pen: Van Straaten (3) |
| Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 72,500 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) |
Week 5
| Saturday 2 December 2000 14:30 GMT |
| England | 25–17 | South Africa |
| Try: Greenwood Con: Wilkinson Pen: Wilkinson (6) | Report | Try: Van Straaten Pen: Van Straaten (4) |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 70,200 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland) |
References
- ↑ "England rugby stars on strike". Retrieved 27 November 2014.