2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B Explained

Pool B of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 19 September and was completed on 11 October 2015.^[1] The pool was composed of South Africa, Samoa and Scotlandwho all qualified automatically for the tournament due to finishing in the top three positions in their pools in 2011joined by the top Asian qualifier, Japan, and the second American qualifier, United States. South Africa and Scotland qualified for the quarter-finals.^[2]

Matches

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

South Africa vs Japan

FB 15 Zane Kirchner RW 14 Bryan Habana OC 13 Jesse Kriel IC 12 Jean de Villiers (c) LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Schalk Burger BF 7 OF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 Victor Matfield LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 Ayumu Goromaru RW 14 OC 13 Male Sa'u IC 12 Harumichi Tatekawa LW 11 Kotaro Matsushima FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Michael Broadhurst BF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 LL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan) Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Fumiaki Tanaka earned his 50th test cap for Japan.^[3]
• This was the first ever match between these nations.
• This was South Africa's first ever loss to a Tier 2 nation.^[4]
• This was Japan's second ever win over one of the SANZAAR nations.^[5]
• This match is known as "The Brighton Miracle" and is featured in the film of the same name.

Samoa vs United States

FB 15 Tim Nanai-Williams RW 14 Ken Pisi OC 13 Paul Perez IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Ofisa Treviranus (c) OF 7 Jack Lam BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Viliamu Afatia PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 Vavao Afemai FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Stephen Betham

FB 15 RW 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya OC 13 Seamus Kelly IC 12 Thretton Palamo LW 11 Chris Wyles (c) FH 10 AJ MacGinty SH 9 Mike Petri N8 8 Samu Manoa OF 7 Andrew Durutalo BF 6 Alastair McFarland RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 FH 21 Shalom Suniula CE 22 Folau Niua WG 23 Coach: Mike Tolkin

Man of the Match: Tim Nanai-Williams (Samoa) Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Scotland vs Japan

FB 15 RW 14 Tommy Seymour OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Sean Lamont FH 10 Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 OF 7 John Hardie BF 6 RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Henry Pyrgos CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Vern Cotter

FB 15 Ayumu Goromaru RW 14 OC 13 Male Sa'u IC 12 Yu Tamura LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Michael Broadhurst BF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland) Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• Josh Strauss made his international debut for Scotland.^[6]

South Africa vs Samoa

FB 15 Willie le Roux RW 14 JP Pietersen OC 13 Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12 LW 11 Bryan Habana FH 10 Handré Pollard SH 9 N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 Tim Nanai-Williams RW 14 Ken Pisi OC 13 Paul Perez IC 12 Rey Lee-Lo LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Ofisa Treviranus (c) OF 7 Jack Lam BF 6 TJ Ioane RL 5 LL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Stephen Betham

Man of the Match: Handré Pollard (South Africa) Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Adriaan Strauss earned his 50th test cap for South Africa.
• Census Johnston earned his 50th test cap for Samoa.
• George, Ken and Tusi Pisi became the first set of three brothers to represent and play for one team in one XV, in a Rugby World Cup match.^[7]

Scotland vs United States

FB 15 Stuart Hogg RW 14 Sean Maitland OC 13 Mark Bennett IC 12 LW 11 Tim Visser FH 10 SH 9 Henry Pyrgos (c) N8 8 Josh Strauss OF 7 BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 LL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 HK 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Vern Cotter

FB 15 Chris Wyles (c) RW 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya OC 13 Seamus Kelly IC 12 Thretton Palamo LW 11 FH 10 AJ MacGinty SH 9 N8 8 Samu Manoa OF 7 BF 6 Alastair McFarland RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 N8 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Mike Tolkin

Man of the Match: Stuart Hogg (Scotland) Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Samoa vs Japan

FB 15 Tim Nanai-Williams RW 14 Ken Pisi OC 13 Paul Perez IC 12 Johnny Leota LW 11 FH 10 Tusi Pisi SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Ofisa Treviranus (c) RL 5 Kane Thompson LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 Michael Stanley CE 23 Coach: Stephen Betham

FB 15 Ayumu Goromaru RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Harumichi Tatekawa LW 11 Kotaro Matsushima FH 10 Kosei Ono SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 LL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Masataka Mikami PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 FL 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan) Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes:

• This was Japan's largest winning margin over Samoa, surpassing their 19-point winning margin set in 2014.
• Atsushi Hiwasa earned his 50th test cap for Japan.

South Africa vs Scotland

FB 15 Willie le Roux RW 14 OC 13 Jesse Kriel IC 12 LW 11 Bryan Habana FH 10 Handré Pollard SH 9 Fourie du Preez (c) N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 RW 14 Tommy Seymour OC 13 IC 12 Matt Scott LW 11 Tim Visser FH 10 Duncan Weir SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 David Denton OF 7 Blair Cowan BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Vern Cotter

Man of the Match: Lood de Jager (South Africa) Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Alasdair Dickinson earned his 50th test cap for Scotland.

South Africa vs United States

FB 15 Willie le Roux RW 14 OC 13 Jesse Kriel IC 12 LW 11 Lwazi Mvovo FH 10 SH 9 Fourie du Preez (c) N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 RW 14 Brett Thompson OC 13 Folau Niua IC 12 Andrew Suniula LW 11 Zack Test FH 10 Shalom Suniula SH 9 Niku Kruger N8 8 Samu Manoa (c) OF 7 John Quill BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Louis Stanfill TP 3 Chris Baumann HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: PR 16 HK 17 PR 18 PR 19 Titi Lamositele LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 Mike Petri FB 23 Coach: Mike Tolkin

Man of the Match: Damian de Allende (South Africa) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Rudy Paige made his international debut for South Africa.^[8]
• Joe Taufete'e made his international debut for the United States.
• Bryan Habana equaled Jonah Lomu's World Cup record of 15 tries scored in the tournament.^[9]

Samoa vs Scotland

FB 15 Tim Nanai-Williams RW 14 Paul Perez OC 13 George Pisi IC 12 Rey Lee-Lo LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (c) N8 8 Alafoti Faosiliva OF 7 Jack Lam BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Stephen Betham

FB 15 RW 14 Sean Maitland OC 13 Mark Bennett IC 12 LW 11 Tommy Seymour FH 10 Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 David Denton OF 7 John Hardie BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 WP Nel HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 Jon Welsh LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 Henry Pyrgos CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Vern Cotter

Man of the Match: John Hardie (Scotland) Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Richie Gray earned his 50th test cap for Scotland.
• Sean Lamont became the second Scottish player to earn 100 caps for Scotland.^[10]

United States vs Japan

FB 15 Chris Wyles (c) RW 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya OC 13 Seamus Kelly IC 12 Thretton Palamo LW 11 Zack Test FH 10 AJ MacGinty SH 9 Mike Petri N8 8 Samu Manoa OF 7 Andrew Durutalo BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 Titi Lamositele HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Olive Kilifi PR 18 Chris Baumann LK 19 FL 20 N8 21 SH 22 Niku Kruger CE 23 Folau Niua Coach: Mike Tolkin

FB 15 Ayumu Goromaru RW 14 Yoshikazu Fujita OC 13 Harumichi Tatekawa IC 12 Craig Wing LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 LL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 FL 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan) Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• With this win, Japan became the first team to win three pool games and still fail to advance to the knockout stage.^{[11] [12]}

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: fixtures, results and standings. BBC Sport. 4 November 2015.
3. Web site: South Africa 32-34 Japan. 19 September 2015. Guardian. 24 September 2015.
4. Web site: Japan pull off greatest shock in World Cup history. 19 September 2015. ESPN. 21 September 2015.
5. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: South Africa 32-34 Japan. 19 September 2015. BBC Sport. 21 September 2015.
6. Web site: Scotland exploit Japan’s quick turnaround to run riot at World Cup. 23 September 2015. Guardian. 24 September 2015.
7. Web site: South Africa 46 Samoa 6, match report: Boks bounce back from Japan hurt to thrash Pacific Islanders at Villa Park. 26 September 2015. Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2015.
8. Web site: South Africa 64 USA 0 - Springboks through to World Cup quarter-finals as Bryan Habana scores hat-trick. 6 October 2015. Daily Telegraphl. 9 October 2015.
9. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: South Africa 64-0 USA. 6 October 2015. BBC Sportl. 9 October 2015.
10. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Samoa 33-36 Scotland. 10 October 2015. BBC Sport. 13 October 2015.
11. Web site: Japan sign off with third win of the tournament by beating the USA. 11 October 2015. Guardian. 13 October 2015.
12. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Japan beat USA in final pool game. 11 October 2015. BBC Sport. 13 October 2015.