2015 Rugby World Cup Pool C Explained

Pool C of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 19 September and was completed on 11 October 2015.^[1] The pool was composed of New Zealand (the title holders), Argentina and Tongawho all qualified automatically for the tournament due to finishing in the top three positions in their pools in 2011along with the top European qualifier, Georgia, and the top African qualifier, Namibia.

After winning the first three of their matches, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.^[2] After Tonga loss to New Zealand in their last Pool Match, Argentina became the second team from Pool C to qualify for the quarter-finals.^[3] New Zealand eventually went on to win Rugby World Cup 2015, beating Australia 34 - 17 in the final.^[4]

Matches

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

Tonga vs Georgia

FB 15 Vunga Lilo RW 14 Telusa Veainu OC 13 IC 12 Siale Piutau LW 11 Fetuʻu Vainikolo FH 10 Kurt Morath SH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Viliami Maʻafu OF 7 Nili Latu (c) BF 6 Sione Kalamafoni RL 5 LL 4 Tukulua Lokotui TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 Samisoni Fisilau FH 22 Latiume Fosita CE 23 Coach: Mana Otai

FB 15 RW 14 Tamaz Mchedlidze OC 13 Davit Kacharava IC 12 Merab Sharikadze LW 11 Giorgi Aptsiauri FH 10 Lasha Malaghuradze SH 9 N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) OF 7 Viktor Kolelishvili BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Giorgi Nemsadze TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 Giorgi Pruidze WG 23 Muraz Giorgadze Coach: Milton Haig

Man of the Match: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Fetuʻu Vainikolo surpassed Josh Taumalolo's record of 14 tries for his country, to become Tonga's record try scorer.^[5]
• Merab Kvirikashvili surpassed Irakli Abuseridze's record of 85 caps for his country, to become Georgia's most capped player.^[6]
• Vasil Lobzhanidze, at 18 years and 340 days, became the youngest ever player to appear in a World Cup match.^[7]
• Shalva Sutiashvili earned his 50th test cap for Georgia.

New Zealand vs Argentina

FB 15 Ben Smith RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 RW 14 Santiago Cordero OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 Juan Martín Hernández LW 11 Juan Imhoff FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe BF 6 RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Daniel Hourcade

Notes:

• The 89,019 crowd, surpassed the tournament's biggest crowd for a match, set in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final, of 82,957.^[8]
• New Zealand fielded the most experienced ever starting fifteen in international history.^[9]
• This marks the first time, New Zealand failed to win with a bonus point in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, ever since they were introduced.

New Zealand vs Namibia

FB 15 RW 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder OC 13 Malakai Fekitoa IC 12 LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 Beauden Barrett SH 9 N8 8 Victor Vito OF 7 Sam Cane (c) BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Luke Romano TP 3 HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Ben Franks Replacements: HK 16 Keven Mealamu PR 17 PR 18 Tony Woodcock N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 Johann Tromp RW 14 OC 13 JC Greyling IC 12 Johan Deysel LW 11 FH 10 Theuns Kotzé SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Jacques Burger (c) RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Coach: Phil Davies

Notes:

• This was the first ever match between these nations.
• Richie McCaw became the most capped New Zealander player at a Rugby World Cup, surpassing Sean Fitzpatrick's record of 17.^[10]

Argentina vs Georgia

FB 15 Joaquín Tuculet RW 14 Santiago Cordero OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 LW 11 Juan Imhoff FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Facundo Isa OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Matías Alemanno TP 3 HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Daniel Hourcade

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Davit Kacharava IC 12 Merab Sharikadze LW 11 Giorgi Aptsiauri FH 10 Lasha Malaghuradze SH 9 N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) OF 7 BF 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili RL 5 LL 4 Giorgi Nemsadze TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 WG 23 Coach: Milton Haig

Man of the Match: Santiago Cordero (Argentina) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Tonga vs Namibia

FB 15 RW 14 David Halaifonua OC 13 Siale Piutau (c) IC 12 Sione Piukala LW 11 Telusa Veainu FH 10 Latiume Fosita SH 9 N8 8 Viliami Maʻafu (c) OF 7 Jack Ram BF 6 RL 5 Joe Tuineau 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: Mana Otai

FB 15 Chrysander Botha RW 14 OC 13 Danie van Wyk IC 12 LW 11 Russell van Wyk FH 10 Theuns Kotzé SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Rohan Kitshoff BF 6 Jacques Burger (c) RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 CE 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Phil Davies

Man of the Match: Jack Ram (Tonga) Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Tonga became the first team to name two captains in a Rugby World Cup match.
• The 3 tries scored by Namibia were the most scored by the team in a World Cup match.
• The 35 points scored by Tonga is the highest ever score it has posted in a Rugby World Cup game.
• Kurt Morath surpassed Pierre Hola's record of 317 points for his country to become Tonga's highest-ever point scorer.^[11]

New Zealand vs Georgia

FB 15 Ben Smith RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 SH 22 TJ Perenara CE 23 Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 Beka Tsiklauri RW 14 Giorgi Aptsiauri OC 13 Davit Kacharava IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Lasha Malaghuradze SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) BF 6 Shalva Sutiashvili RL 5 Giorgi Chkhaidze LL 4 Levan Datunashvili TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Milton Haig

Man of the Match: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• This was the first ever match between these nations.

Argentina vs Tonga

FB 15 Joaquín Tuculet RW 14 Santiago Cordero OC 13 IC 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente LW 11 FH 10 Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe BF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Daniel Hourcade

FB 15 RW 14 Telusa Veainu OC 13 Siale Piutau IC 12 LW 11 Fetuʻu Vainikolo FH 10 Kurt Morath SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Nili Latu (c) BF 6 Sione Kalamafoni RL 5 LL 4 Tukulua Lokotui TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Mana Otai

Man of the Match: Nicolás Sánchez (Argentina) Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes

• This was the first ever match between these nations.^[12]

Namibia vs Georgia

FB 15 Chrysander Botha RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Russell van Wyk FH 10 Theuns Kotzé SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Jacques Burger (c) RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 FB 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Phil Davies

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Davit Kacharava IC 12 Merab Sharikadze LW 11 Alexander Todua FH 10 Lasha Malaghuradze SH 9 N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) OF 7 BF 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili RL 5 LL 4 Giorgi Nemsadze TP 3 Davit Zirakashvili HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 Anton Peikrishvili LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 WG 22 FB 23 Coach: Milton Haig

Man of the Match: Tinus du Plessis (Namibia) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• Alexander Todua earned his 50th test cap for Georgia.
• Theuns Kotzé surpassed Jaco Coetzee's record of 335 points to become Namibia top point scorer.^[13]
• The losing bonus point for Namibia was the country's first-ever competition point in a Rugby World Cup.^[14]

New Zealand vs Tonga

FB 15 Ben Smith RW 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder OC 13 IC 12 Ma'a Nonu LW 11 FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read (c) OF 7 Sam Cane BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 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: Steve Hansen

FB 15 Vunga Lilo RW 14 OC 13 Siale Piutau IC 12 Latiume Fosita LW 11 Fetuʻu Vainikolo FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Nili Latu (c) BF 6 Sione Kalamafoni RL 5 LL 4 Tukulua Lokotui TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Mana Otai

Man of the Match: Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand) Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Ma'a Nonu became the sixth All Blacks player to earn his 100th test cap.^[15]

Argentina vs Namibia

FB 15 Lucas González Amorosino RW 14 Matías Moroni OC 13 IC 12 Juan Pablo Socino LW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 SH 9 Martín Landajo (c) N8 8 Facundo Isa OF 7 Javier Ortega Desio BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Lucas Noguera Paz Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Marcos Ayerza PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Daniel Hourcade

FB 15 RW 14 Johann Tromp OC 13 IC 12 Johan Deysel LW 11 Conrad Marais FH 10 Theuns Kotzé SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Wian Conradie BF 6 Rohan Kitshoff (c) RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 WG 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Phil Davies

Man of the Match: Horacio Agulla (Argentina) Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Martín Landajo earned his 50th test cap for Argentina.^[16]
• Johnny Redelinghuys became the first Namibian player to earn his 50th test cap.^[17]

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: All Blacks struggle to win over Georgia. Radio New Zealand. 3 October 2015 . 2015-11-03.
3. Web site: Rugby World Cup: Ireland, Argentina Qualify For Quarter-final. Channels Television. 2015-11-03.
4. News: Rugby World Cup 2015: fixtures, results and standings. 23 April 2015. BBC Sport. 4 November 2015.
5. Web site: Tonga 10-17 Georgia. 19 September 2015. BBC Sport. 24 September 2015.
6. Web site: Georgia spring first surprise by taking down Tonga. 19 September 2015. ESPN. 24 September 2015.
7. Web site: Georgia introduce young blood into team to face Tonga. rugbybworldcup.com. rugbyworldcup.com. 14 September 2017.
8. Web site: Record Rugby World Cup attendance at Wembley Stadium. rugbybworldcup.com. rugbyworldcup.com. 14 September 2017.
9. News: All Blacks name most experienced ever XV to take on Pumas. https://web.archive.org/web/20160829031852/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-rugby-union-world-newzealand-idUKKCN0RI17X20150918. dead. August 29, 2016. 23 September 2015.
10. Web site: New Zealand made to work for World Cup win by tough-tackling Namibia. 24 September 2015. Guardian. 25 September 2015.
11. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Tonga 35-21 Namibia. 29 September 2015. BBC Sport. 2 October 2015.
12. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Argentina 45-16 Tonga. 4 October 2015. BBC Sport. 5 October 2015.
13. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Namibia 16-17 Georgia. 7 October 2015. BBC Sport. 9 October 2015.
14. Web site: Namibia 16 Georgia 17 - Mamuka Gorgodze leads Lelos to victory but Nambia claim first ever World Cup point. 7 October 2015. Daily Telegraph. 9 October 2015.
15. Web site: New Zealand 47 Tonga 9. 9 October 2015. Guardian. 13 October 2015.
16. Web site: Argentina warm up for World Cup last eight with nine tries on Namibia. 11 October 2015. Guardian. 13 October 2015.
17. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Argentina 64-19 Namibia. 11 October 2015. BBC Sport. 13 October 2015.