2007 Rugby World Cup Pool B Explained

Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 8 September and was completed on 29 September. The pool was composed of 2003 hosts Australia, as well as Canada, Fiji, Japan and Wales.

Wales' 38–34 loss to Fiji in their final pool game (their third World Cup loss to a Pacific island nation, having previously been beaten 16–13 by Western Samoa in 1991 and 38-31 by Samoa in 1999, both times in Cardiff),^[1] meant Fiji qualified for the quarter-finals at Wales' expense. Australia finished in top spot with the maximum of 20 points, while Japan and Canada played out the first draw in a Rugby World Cup game since a 20–20 draw between France and Scotland back in 1987.^[2] Neither Japan nor Canada managed to win any of their four games, with a single bonus point in Japan's favour proving the difference between them, after they managed to remain within 7 points of Fiji in a 35–31 defeat.

Standings

All times local (UTC+2)

Matches

Australia vs Japan

FB 15 Chris Latham RW 14 OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 FH 20 WG 21 WG 22 Coach: John Connolly

FB 15 Tatsuya Kusumi RW 14 Tomoki Kitagawa OC 13 Koji Taira IC 12 Nataniela Oto LW 11 Hirotoki Onozawa FH 10 Kosei Ono SH 9 Yuki Yatomi N8 8 Hajime Kiso OF 7 Takamichi Sasaki (c) BF 6 RL 5 Luatangi Vatuvei LL 4 Takanori Kumagae TP 3 Ryo Yamamura HK 2 Taku Inokuchi LP 1 Masahito Yamamoto Replacements: HK 16 Yuji Matsubara PR 17 Tomokazu Soma LK 18 Hitoshi Ono FL 19 SH 20 Tomoki Yoshida CE 21 Bryce Robins WG 22 Kosuke Endo Coach: John Kirwan

Man of the Match: Rocky Elsom (Australia) Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Dave Pearson (England) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Fifth official: Laurent Valin (France)

• Australia's starting 15 in this match was the most-experienced starting team in the sport's history, as measured by total number of international caps entering the match. The Wallabies squad that took the field for the opening kickoff had earned a combined total of 798 caps.^[3]

Wales vs Canada

FB 15 RW 14 Mark Jones OC 13 Tom Shanklin IC 12 Sonny Parker LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 SH 9 Dwayne Peel (c) N8 8 Alix Popham OF 7 BF 6 Jonathan Thomas RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 N8 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 FB 22 Coach: Gareth Jenkins

FB 15 Mike Pyke RW 14 D. T. H. van der Merwe OC 13 Craig Culpan IC 12 Dave Spicer LW 11 James Pritchard FH 10 SH 9 Morgan Williams (c) N8 8 Sean-Michael Stephen OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Mike James LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Pat Riordan LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 Coach: Ric Suggitt

Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada) Touch judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Christophe Dutreuilh (France)

Japan vs Fiji

FB 15 RW 14 Christian Loamanu OC 13 Yuta Imamura IC 12 Shotaro Onishi LW 11 Kosuke Endo FH 10 Bryce Robins SH 9 N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c) OF 7 Philip O'Reilly BF 6 Hare Makiri RL 5 Luke Thompson LL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 HK 2 Yuji Matsubara LP 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura Replacements: HK 16 Taku Inokuchi PR 17 LK 18 Takanori Kumagae FL 19 Ryota Asano SH 20 CE 21 WG 22 Coach: John Kirwan

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Seru Rabeni IC 12 Seremaia Bai LW 11 Isoa Neivua FH 10 Nicky Little SH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c) N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Semisi Naevo RL 5 Wame Lewaravu LL 4 Kele Leawere TP 3 HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Graham Dewes Replacements: HK 16 Vereniki Sauturaga PR 17 N8 18 CE 19 SH 20 Jone Daunivucu CE 21 Gabiriele Lovobalavu FB 22 Coach: Ilie Tabua

Man of the Match: Akapusi Qera (Fiji) Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Paul Marks (New Zealand) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Chris White (England) Fifth official: Romain Poite (France)

Wales vs Australia

FB 15 Gareth Thomas (c) RW 14 Mark Jones OC 13 Tom Shanklin IC 12 LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Stephen Jones SH 9 N8 8 Jonathan Thomas OF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 FH 21 FB 22 Coach: Gareth Jenkins

FB 15 Chris Latham RW 14 OC 13 Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 SH 9 George Gregan N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Matt Dunning Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 FL 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: John Connolly

Man of the Match: Chris Latham (Australia) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Fiji vs Canada

FB 15 Kameli Ratuvou RW 14 Vilimoni Delasau OC 13 IC 12 Seremaia Bai LW 11 FH 10 Nicky Little SH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c) N8 8 Sisa Koyamaibole OF 7 Akapusi Qera BF 6 RL 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa LL 4 Kele Leawere TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Graham Dewes Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 N8 18 N8 19 Jone Qovu SH 20 Jone Daunivucu CE 21 FB 22 Coach: Ilie Tabua

FB 15 Mike Pyke RW 14 D. T. H. van der Merwe OC 13 Craig Culpan IC 12 Dave Spicer LW 11 James Pritchard FH 10 Ryan Smith SH 9 Morgan Williams (c) N8 8 OF 7 Dave Biddle BF 6 Jamie Cudmore RL 5 Mike James LL 4 TP 3 Jon Thiel HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 Mike Pletch LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Ed Fairhurst FH 22 Ander Monro Coach: Ric Suggitt

Man of the Match: Kameli Ratuvou (Fiji) Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France) Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Joël Jutge (France) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Wales vs Japan

FB 15 Kevin Morgan RW 14 Dafydd James OC 13 IC 12 James Hook LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Stephen Jones (c) SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 LL 4 Will James TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Duncan Jones Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 FH 21 CE 22 Coach: Gareth Jenkins

FB 15 Christian Loamanu RW 14 Kosuke Endo OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Hirotoki Onozawa FH 10 Bryce Robins SH 9 N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c) OF 7 BF 6 Yasunori Watanabe RL 5 LL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: John Kirwan

Man of the Match: Michael Phillips (Wales) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Australia vs Fiji

FB 15 Chris Latham RW 14 Drew Mitchell OC 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 OF 7 Phil Waugh BF 6 RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Mark Chisholm TP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: John Connolly

FB 15 Norman Ligairi RW 14 Vilimoni Delasau OC 13 IC 12 Seremaia Bai (c) LW 11 Isoa Neivua FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Jone Qovu OF 7 Aca Ratuva BF 6 RL 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa LL 4 TP 3 Henry Qiodravu HK 2 Vereniki Sauturaga LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Bill Gadolo PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 CE 21 CE 22 Coach: Ilie Tabua

Man of the Match: Matt Giteau (Australia) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Christophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Romain Poite (France) Fifth official: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France)

Canada vs Japan

FB 15 Mike Pyke RW 14 D. T. H. van der Merwe OC 13 IC 12 Dave Spicer LW 11 James Pritchard FH 10 Ryan Smith SH 9 Morgan Williams (c) N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Colin Yukes RL 5 Mike James LL 4 Mike Burak TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: PR 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Ed Fairhurst WG 22 Coach: Ric Suggitt

FB 15 Go Aruga RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Shotaro Onishi LW 11 Christian Loamanu FH 10 Bryce Robins SH 9 N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c) OF 7 Philip O'Reilly BF 6 Hare Makiri RL 5 Luke Thompson LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Yuji Matsubara LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Taku Inokuchi PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 CE 21 FB 22 Coach: John Kirwan

Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada) Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Joël Jutge (France) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Hervé Dubes (France)

Australia vs Canada

FB 15 Chris Latham RW 14 Cameron Shepherd OC 13 Lote Tuqiri IC 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper LW 11 Drew Mitchell FH 10 Julian Huxley SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 George Smith (c) BF 6 Hugh McMeniman RL 5 Mark Chisholm LL 4 TP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 LP 1 Greg Holmes Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Guy Shepherdson FL 18 Rocky Elsom FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 Matt Giteau Coach: John Connolly

FB 15 RW 14 Justin Mensah-Coker OC 13 Mike Pyke IC 12 LW 11 James Pritchard FH 10 Ander Monro SH 9 Morgan Williams (c) N8 8 OF 7 Dave Biddle BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Luke Tait TP 3 Jon Thiel HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 Coach: Ric Suggitt

Man of the Match: Hugh McMeniman (Australia) Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Fourth official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fifth official: Stephan Pomarede (France)

Wales vs Fiji

FB 15 Gareth Thomas (c) RW 14 Mark Jones OC 13 Tom Shanklin IC 12 James Hook LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Stephen Jones SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 CE 21 Jamie Robinson WG 22 Dafydd James Coach: Gareth Jenkins

FB 15 Kameli Ratuvou RW 14 Vilimoni Delasau OC 13 IC 12 Seremaia Bai LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c) N8 8 Sisa Koyamaibole OF 7 BF 6 Semisi Naevo RL 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa LL 4 Kele Leawere TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Graham Dewes Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 Wame Lewaravu CE 19 SH 20 FB 21 WG 22 Coach: Ilie Tabua

Man of the Match: Shane Williams (Wales) Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Christophe Dutreuilh (France)

External links

• Pool B at rugbyworldcup.com

Notes and References

1. News: Sean . Davies . Wales 34-38 Fiji . BBC Sport . 29 September 2007 . 8 February 2008 .
2. News: James . Standley . Canada 12-12 Japan . BBC Sport . 25 September 2007 . 8 February 2008 .
3. News: Ask John . John . Griffiths . Scrum.com . 2009-08-17 . 2009-08-17.