CREATE TABLE table_203_871 (id DECIMAL, "#" DECIMAL, "player" TEXT, "pos" TEXT, "pts" DECIMAL, "tries" DECIMAL, "conv" DECIMAL, "pens" DECIMAL, "drop" DECIMAL, "opposition" TEXT, "venue" TEXT, "date" TEXT)

how many times was 24 points or more achieved by an italian player before 2000 ?
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_203_871 WHERE "pts" >= 24 AND "date" < 2000
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM "table_203_871" WHERE "date" < 2000 AND "pts" >= 24