2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A Explained

See main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup. Pool A of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 18 September and was completed on 10 October 2015.^[1] The pool was composed of hosts England, as well as the third- and fourth-placed teams from 2011, Australia and Wales. They were joined by the Oceania qualifier, Fiji, and the repechage qualifier, Uruguay. The group was called the group of death, with four of the five teams in the top 10 of the World Rugby Rankings going into the tournament.^[2] Australia and Wales qualified for the quarter-finals.^[3]

Matches

All times are local United Kingdom time (UTC+01)

England vs Fiji

FB 15 Mike Brown RW 14 Anthony Watson OC 13 Jonathan Joseph IC 12 LW 11 Jonny May FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c) BF 6 Tom Wood RL 5 Courtney Lawes LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Stuart Lancaster

FB 15 Metuisela Talebula RW 14 Waisea Nayacalevu OC 13 Vereniki Goneva IC 12 Gabiriele Lovobalavu LW 11 Nemani Nadolo FH 10 Ben Volavola SH 9 N8 8 Sakiusa Matadigo OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 RL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Nemia Kenatale FH 22 Josh Matavesi WG 23 Asaeli Tikoirotuma Coach: John McKee

Man of the Match: Mike Brown (England) Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• Ben Youngs earned his 50th test cap for England.^[4]

Wales vs Uruguay

FB 15 RW 14 Alex Cuthbert OC 13 IC 12 Scott Williams LW 11 Hallam Amos FH 10 Rhys Priestland SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Sam Warburton (c) RL 5 LL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Coach: Warren Gatland

FB 15 Gastón Mieres RW 14 Santiago Gibernau OC 13 Joaquín Prada IC 12 LW 11 Rodrigo Silva FH 10 Felipe Berchesi SH 9 N8 8 Alejandro Nieto OF 7 BF 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara RL 5 LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c) TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Man of the Match: Cory Allen (Wales) Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes

• This was the first ever match between these nations.^[5]

Australia vs Fiji

FB 15 Israel Folau RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Rob Horne FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 David Pocock OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 SH 21 CE 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

FB 15 Metuisela Talebula RW 14 OC 13 Vereniki Goneva IC 12 Gabiriele Lovobalavu LW 11 Nemani Nadolo FH 10 Ben Volavola SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 RL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Talemaitoga Tuapati LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Viliame Veikoso PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 Josh Matavesi WG 23 Coach: John McKee

Man of the Match: David Pocock (Australia) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

England vs Wales

FB 15 Mike Brown RW 14 Anthony Watson OC 13 Brad Barritt IC 12 LW 11 Jonny May FH 10 Owen Farrell SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c) BF 6 Tom Wood RL 5 LL 4 Geoff Parling TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 FB 23 Alex Goode Coach: Stuart Lancaster

FB 15 RW 14 George North OC 13 IC 12 Jamie Roberts LW 11 FH 10 Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Aaron Jarvis PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Warren Gatland

Man of the Match: Dan Biggar (Wales) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• This was the first time the host nation had lost a match in the pool stage since France lost to Argentina 17–12 in 2007.^[6]

Australia vs Uruguay

FB 15 Kurtley Beale RW 14 Joe Tomane OC 13 Henry Speight IC 12 LW 11 Drew Mitchell FH 10 SH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 OF 7 Sean McMahon BF 6 Ben McCalman RL 5 LL 4 Dean Mumm (c) TP 3 Toby Smith HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Stephen Moore PR 17 PR 18 Greg Holmes LK 19 LK 20 SH 21 Will Genia FH 22 Bernard Foley CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

FB 15 Gastón Mieres RW 14 Leandro Leivas OC 13 Joaquín Prada IC 12 LW 11 Rodrigo Silva FH 10 SH 9 Agustín Ormaechea N8 8 OF 7 Matías Beer BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c) TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 CE 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Man of the Match: Sean McMahon (Australia) Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• This was the first meeting between the two nations.
• Diego Magno earned his 50th test cap for Uruguay.
• Drew Mitchell scored his 12th World Cup try, surpassing Chris Latham's Australian World Cup record of 11 tries.^[7]

Wales vs Fiji

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Tyler Morgan IC 12 Jamie Roberts LW 11 George North FH 10 SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Warren Gatland

FB 15 Metuisela Talebula RW 14 Timoci Nagusa OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma FH 10 Ben Volavola SH 9 N8 8 Netani Talei OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 RL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 FB 23 Coach: John McKee

Man of the Match: Gareth Davies (Wales) Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Taulupe Faletau and Dan Lydiate earned their 50th test cap for Wales.^[8]
• Akapusi Qera earned his 50th test cap for Fiji.^[9]

England vs Australia

FB 15 Mike Brown RW 14 Anthony Watson OC 13 Jonathan Joseph IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c) BF 6 Tom Wood RL 5 Geoff Parling LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Stuart Lancaster

FB 15 RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 Tevita Kuridrani IC 12 Matt Giteau LW 11 FH 10 Bernard Foley SH 9 N8 8 David Pocock OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Kane Douglas TP 3 HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

Notes:

• With this loss, England became the first host nation since Wales in 1991 not to make it out of the Pools.^[10]
• This was Australia's largest winning margin over England in England, while scoring the most points against them in England.^[11]

Fiji vs Uruguay

FB 15 Kini Murimurivalu RW 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma OC 13 IC 12 Levani Botia LW 11 Nemani Nadolo FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 RL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: John McKee

FB 15 Gastón Mieres RW 14 OC 13 Joaquín Prada IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca LW 11 Rodrigo Silva FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Diego Magno OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c) TP 3 HK 2 Carlos Arboleya LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Germán Kessler PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 FL 21 WG 22 WG 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Man of the Match: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji) Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Mario Sagario earned his 50th test cap for Uruguay.^[12]

Australia vs Wales

FB 15 Israel Folau RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 Tevita Kuridrani IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Bernard Foley SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 LL 4 Kane Douglas TP 3 HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

FB 15 Gareth Anscombe RW 14 OC 13 George North IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 BF 6 Sam Warburton (c) RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 Luke Charteris TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 Jake Ball FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Warren Gatland

Man of the Match: Gareth Davies (Wales) Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• This was the first match between Australia and Wales in which both sides have failed to score a try since Wales' 6–0 win in 1947.^[13]

England vs Uruguay

FB 15 Alex Goode RW 14 OC 13 Henry Slade IC 12 LW 11 Jack Nowell FH 10 George Ford SH 9 N8 8 Nick Easter OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c) BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Stuart Lancaster

FB 15 Gastón Mieres RW 14 Santiago Gibernau OC 13 Joaquín Prada IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca LW 11 Rodrigo Silva FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara RL 5 LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c) TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 FH 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Man of the Match: Nick Easter (England) Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Alejo Corral earned his 50th test cap for Uruguay.^[14]
• Nick Easter became the oldest player ever to score an international hat-trick.

External links

• Official RWC 2015 Site

Notes and References

1. Web site: World Cup 2015 schedule . 2 May 2013 . 2 May 2013. BBC Sport.
2. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: England in the pool of death? It was far harder for the class of '91. 14 September 2015. Daily Telegraph. 18 September 2015.
3. News: Rugby World Cup 2015: fixtures, results and standings. BBC Sport. 4 November 2015.
4. Web site: England 35 Fiji 11. 18 September 2015. ESPN. 24 September 2015.
5. Web site: Injuries continue to mount for eight-try Wales. 20 September 2015. ESPN. 24 September 2015.
6. Web site: Wounded Wales turn the tables. 26 September 2015. ESPN. 29 September 2015.
7. Web site: Drew Mitchell breaks Australia tries record in trouncing of Uruguay. 27 September 2015. Guardian. 29 September 2015.
8. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Wales 23-13 Fiji. 1 October 2015. BBC Sport. 2 October 2015.
9. Web site: Wales 23 Fiji 13, Rugby World Cup 2015, match report: Gareth Davies inspires Welsh to win. 1 October 2015. Daily Telegraph. 2 October 2015.
10. Web site: Beale, not Foley, to blame for England's early exit?. 5 October 2015. Reuters. 5 October 2015.
11. Web site: England put to the sword after Australia's Bernard Foley cuts loose. 3 October 2015. Guardian. 5 October 2015.
12. Web site: Fiji 47 Uruguay 15, Rugby World Cup, match report: Fijian power proves too much for brave underdogs. 6 October 2015. Daily Telegraphl. 9 October 2015.
13. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia 15-6 Wales. 10 October 2015. BBC Sport. 13 October 2015.
14. Web site: Preview: England vs. Uruguay -- Lancaster loosens up as hosts bow out.