2007 Rugby World Cup Pool D Explained

Pool D of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 7 September and concluded on 30 September. The pool was composed of World Cup hosts France, Argentina, Georgia, Ireland and Namibia.

Standings

Pool D was expected to be the Pool of Death in the 2007 tournament and so it proved: the final rankings were only determined after the last round of matches. The pool was won by Argentina, who won all their matches, while France, who lost to Argentina in the opening game of the tournament, finished in second place. Ireland, whom many commentators had expected to do well, were eliminated after winning only two matches, against Georgia and Namibia: Georgia came close to scoring a winning try late in their game, while Namibia recorded their best World Cup result against a team ranked in the top 10.

Matches

All times local (UTC+2)

France vs Argentina

FB 15Cédric Heymans
RW 14Aurélien Rougerie
OC 13Yannick Jauzion
IC 12
LW 11Christophe Dominici
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy
OF 7
BF 6 Serge Betsen
RL 5 Jérôme Thion
LL 4
TP 3 Pieter de Villiers
HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c)
LP 1 Olivier Milloud
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux
LK 18
N8 19
FL 20Thierry Dusautoir
SH 21
FH 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15Ignacio Corleto
RW 14Lucas Borges
OC 13
IC 12Felipe Contepomi
LW 11Horacio Agulla
FH 10Juan Martín Hernández
SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)
N8 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón
OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
BF 6
RL 5 Patricio Albacete
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Mario Ledesma
LP 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements:
HK 16Alberto Vernet Basualdo
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Nicolás Fernández Miranda
FH 21Federico Todeschini
CE 22
Coach:
Marcelo Loffreda
Man of the Match:
Felipe Contepomi (Argentina)

Touch judges:
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Fourth official:
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Fifth official:
Eric Gauzins (France)

Notes

Ireland vs Namibia

FB 15Girvan Dempsey
RW 14Andrew Trimble
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10
SH 9 Peter Stringer
N8 8 Denis Leamy
OF 7
BF 6 Simon Easterby
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18Malcolm O'Kelly
FL 19
SH 20Isaac Boss
FH 21
FB 22
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Tertius Losper
RW 14
OC 13Bradley Langenhoven
IC 12Piet van Zyl
LW 11Heini Bock
FH 10Emile Wessels
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis
RL 5 Nico Esterhuyse
LL 4 Wacca Kazombiaze
TP 3 Jané du Toit
HK 2 Hugo Horn
LP 1 Kees Lensing (c)
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
FL 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21Lu-Wayne Botes
WG 22
Coach:
Hakkies Husselman
Man of the Match:
Ryan Witbooi (Namibia)

Touch judges:
Federico Cuesta (Argentina)
Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official:
Paul Marks (Australia)
Fourth official:
Romain Poite (France)
Fifth official:
Stephane Pomarede (France)

Notes

Argentina vs Georgia

FB 15Ignacio Corleto
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Felipe Contepomi (c)
LW 11Federico Martín Aramburú
FH 10Juan Martín Hernández
SH 9 Nicolás Fernández Miranda
N8 8
OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
BF 6 Martín Durand
RL 5 Patricio Albacete
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
CE 20
FH 21
FB 22Federico Serra Miras
Coach:
Marcelo Loffreda
FB 15
RW 14Irakli Machkhaneli
OC 13
IC 12Irakli Giorgadze
LW 11Besiki Khamashuridze
FH 10Merab Kvirikashvili
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Grigol Labadze
BF 6
RL 5 Mamuka Gorgodze
LL 4 Ilia Zedginidze (c)
TP 3
HK 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze
LP 1
Replacements:
PR 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Malkhaz Cheishvili
Man of the Match:
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina)

Touch judges:
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Dave Pearson (England)
Television match official:
Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Fourth official:
Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Fifth official:
Laurent Valin (France)

Ireland vs Georgia

FB 15Girvan Dempsey
RW 14Shane Horgan
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9
N8 8 Denis Leamy
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18Malcolm O'Kelly
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21Paddy Wallace
FB 22Geordan Murphy
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15
RW 14Giorgi Shkinin
OC 13Malkhaz Urjukashvili
IC 12Davit Kacharava
LW 11
FH 10Merab Kvirikashvili
SH 9
N8 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze
OF 7 Rati Urushadze
BF 6
RL 5 Mamuka Gorgodze
LL 4 Ilia Zedginidze (c)
TP 3
HK 2 Goderdzi Shvelidze
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Malkhaz Cheishvili
Man of the Match:
Giorgi Shkinin (Georgia)

Touch judges:
Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Paul Marks (Australia)
Television match official:
Federico Cuesta (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Fifth official:
Hervé Dubes (France)

France vs Namibia

FB 15
RW 14Vincent Clerc
OC 13David Marty
IC 12
LW 11Cédric Heymans
FH 10
SH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (c)
N8 8 Julien Bonnaire
OF 7 Thierry Dusautoir
BF 6
RL 5 Lionel Nallet
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
FH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15Tertius Losper
RW 14Ryan Witbooi
OC 13Bradley Langenhoven
IC 12
LW 11Heini Bock
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 Michael MacKenzie
RL 5
LL 4 Wacca Kazombiaze
TP 3
HK 2 Hugo Horn
LP 1 Kees Lensing (c)
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
FL 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Hakkies Husselman
Man of the Match:
Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (France)

Touch judges:
Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Television match official:
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Fourth official:
Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Fifth official:
Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)

France vs Ireland

FB 15
RW 14Vincent Clerc
OC 13
IC 12
LW 11Cédric Heymans
FH 10Frédéric Michalak
SH 9
N8 8 Julien Bonnaire
OF 7 Thierry Dusautoir
BF 6
RL 5 Jérôme Thion
LL 4
TP 3 Pieter de Villiers
HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c)
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
FH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15Girvan Dempsey
RW 14Shane Horgan
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11Andrew Trimble
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9 Eoin Reddan
N8 8 Denis Leamy
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Isaac Boss
FH 21Paddy Wallace
CE 22Gavin Duffy
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
Man of the Match:
Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (France)

Touch judges:
Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Dave Pearson (England)
Television match official:
Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Fourth official:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Fifth official:
Eric Gauzins (France)

Argentina vs Namibia

FB 15
RW 14Hernán Senillosa
OC 13Gonzalo Tiesi
IC 12Manuel Contepomi
LW 11Horacio Agulla
FH 10
SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)
N8 8
OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
BF 6 Lucas Ostiglia
RL 5 Patricio Albacete
LL 4
TP 3 Omar Hasan
HK 2 Alberto Vernet Basualdo
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16Mario Ledesma
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
FB 22
Coach:
Marcelo Loffreda
FB 15Heini Bock
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Corne Powell (c)
LW 11Melrick Africa
FH 10
SH 9 Eugene Jantjies
N8 8 Tinus du Plessis
OF 7 Jacques Burger
BF 6
RL 5 Nico Esterhuyse
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Johnny Redelinghuys
Replacements:
HK 16Hugo Horn
PR 17
FL 18
LK 19
SH 20
CE 21
CE 22
Coach:
Hakkies Husselman
Man of the Match:
Rodrigo Roncero (Argentina)

Touch judges:
Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official:
Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Fourth official:
Joël Jutge (France)
Fifth official:
Franck Maciello (France)

Georgia vs Namibia

FB 15
RW 14Irakli Machkhaneli
OC 13Davit Kacharava
IC 12Irakli Giorgadze
LW 11
FH 10Merab Kvirikashvili
SH 9 Irakli Abuseridze (c)
N8 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze
OF 7
BF 6 Grigol Labadze
RL 5
LL 4 Levan Datunashvili
TP 3 David Zirakashvili
HK 2
LP 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze
Replacements:
PR 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Malkhaz Cheishvili
FB 15
RW 14Ryan Witbooi
OC 13Piet van Zyl
IC 12Corne Powell
LW 11Bradley Langenhoven
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Jacques Burger
BF 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis
RL 5
LL 4 Wacca Kazombiaze
TP 3
HK 2 Hugo Horn
LP 1 Kees Lensing (c)
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
SH 20
WG 21
LK 22
Coach:
Hakkies Husselman
Man of the Match:
Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia)

Touch judges:
Paul Marks (Australia)
Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official:
Federico Cuesta (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Fifth official:
Bruno Gaudefrin (France)

France vs Georgia

FB 15
RW 14Aurélien Rougerie
OC 13
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11Christophe Dominici
FH 10Lionel Beauxis
SH 9
N8 8 Julien Bonnaire
OF 7 Yannick Nyanga
BF 6 Serge Betsen (c)
RL 5
LL 4 Lionel Nallet
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
WG 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15
RW 14Malkhaz Urjukashvili
OC 13
IC 12Irakli Giorgadze
LW 11
FH 10Merab Kvirikashvili
SH 9 Irakli Abuseridze (c)
N8 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5 Zurab Mtchedlishvili
LL 4
TP 3 David Zirakashvili
HK 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze
LP 1
Replacements:
PR 16
PR 17Avtandil Kopaliani
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
WG 21
WG 22
Coach:
Malkhaz Cheishvili
Man of the Match:
Lionel Beauxis (France)

Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Dave Pearson (England)
Television match official:
Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Fourth official:
Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Fifth official:
Franck Maciello (France)

Ireland vs Argentina

FB 15Geordan Murphy
RW 14Shane Horgan
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9
N8 8 Denis Leamy
OF 7
BF 6 Simon Easterby
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Bryan Young
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21Paddy Wallace
CE 22
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Ignacio Corleto
RW 14Lucas Borges
OC 13
IC 12Felipe Contepomi
LW 11Horacio Agulla
FH 10Juan Martín Hernández
SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)
N8 8 Gonzalo Longo
OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
BF 6
RL 5 Patricio Albacete
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Nicolás Fernández Miranda
FH 21Federico Todeschini
CE 22
Coach:
Marcelo Loffreda
Man of the Match:
Gonzalo Longo (Argentina)

Touch judges:
Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Television match official:
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Fourth official:
Christophe Berdos (France)
Fifth official:
Eric Gauzins (France)

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Referee Honiss set to break world record . Rugby World Cup . 19 October 2007 . 19 October 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071026081802/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid%3D2019835.html . 26 October 2007 . dead .