2000 end-of-year rugby union internationals

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. The touring sides were Argentina, 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 England-Australia match 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 RFU 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.

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	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 USA.

Week 2

Saturday 11 November 2000 14:00 (13:00 GMT)

Italy	17-22	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 win 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 (13:30 GMT)

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 (14:30 GMT)

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)