2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D Explained

See main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup. Pool D of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 19 September and was completed on 11 October 2015.^[1] The pool was composed of France (the 2011 runners-up), Ireland and Italy – who all qualified automatically for the tournament due to finishing in the top three positions in their pools in 2011 – joined by the top American qualifier, Canada, and the second European qualifier, Romania. The top two teams; Ireland and France qualified for the quarter-finals.^[2]

Matches

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

Ireland vs Canada

FB 15 RW 14 David Kearney OC 13 Jared Payne IC 12 Luke Fitzgerald LW 11 Keith Earls FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 BF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 Paul O'Connell (c) LL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Joe Schmidt

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Ciaran Hearn IC 12 Nick Blevins LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10 Nathan Hirayama SH 9 N8 8 Aaron Carpenter OF 7 John Moonlight BF 6 RL 5 Jamie Cudmore (c) LL 4 Brett Beukeboom TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

France vs Italy

FB 15 Scott Spedding RW 14 OC 13 Mathieu Bastareaud IC 12 Alexandre Dumoulin LW 11 Noa Nakaitaci FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Damien Chouly BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c) RL 5 LL 4 Pascal Papé TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 LK 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Philippe Saint-André

FB 15 Luke McLean RW 14 Leonardo Sarto OC 13 Michele Campagnaro IC 12 LW 11 Giovanbattista Venditti FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Samuela Vunisa OF 7 BF 6 Alessandro Zanni RL 5 LL 4 Quintin Geldenhuys TP 3 HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Jacques Brunel

Man of the Match: Louis Picamoles (France) Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Notes:

• Martin Castrogiovanni became Italy's most capped player with 114 caps.^[3]

France vs Romania

FB 15 Brice Dulin RW 14 Sofiane Guitoune OC 13 Gaël Fickou IC 12 Wesley Fofana LW 11 Noa Nakaitaci FH 10 Rémi Talès SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo BF 6 Yannick Nyanga RL 5 Alexandre Flanquart LL 4 Bernard Le Roux TP 3 HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 Yoann Maestri N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 Frédéric Michalak CE 23 Mathieu Bastareaud Coach: Philippe Saint-André

FB 15 Cătălin Fercu RW 14 Mădălin Lemnaru OC 13 Paula Kinikinilau IC 12 Florin Vlaicu LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Mihai Macovei (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Johan van Heerden LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 CE 23 Coach: Lynn Howells

Man of the Match: Wesley Fofana (France) Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Italy vs Canada

FB 15 Luke McLean RW 14 Leonardo Sarto OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Giovanbattista Venditti FH 10 SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 OF 7 Francesco Minto BF 6 Alessandro Zanni RL 5 Joshua Furno LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Jacques Brunel

FB 15 Matt Evans RW 14 Phil Mackenzie OC 13 Ciaran Hearn IC 12 LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Tyler Ardron (c) OF 7 John Moonlight BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Jebb Sinclair TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

Man of the Match: D. T. H. van der Merwe (Canada) Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Notes:

• Mauro Bergamasco equalled Samoa's Brian Lima record of competing in five consecutive Rugby World Cup tournaments.^[4]

Ireland vs Romania

FB 15 Simon Zebo RW 14 Tommy Bowe OC 13 IC 12 Darren Cave LW 11 FH 10 Ian Madigan SH 9 Eoin Reddan N8 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) OF 7 Chris Henry BF 6 Jordi Murphy RL 5 Devin Toner 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: Joe Schmidt

FB 15 Cătălin Fercu RW 14 OC 13 Paula Kinikinilau IC 12 LW 11 Ionuț Botezatu FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Daniel Carpo OF 7 Mihai Macovei (c) BF 6 RL 5 Ovidiu Tonița LL 4 Valentin Popârlan TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 CE 23 Coach: Lynn Howells

Notes:

• The match attendance of 89,267 surpassed the Rugby World Cup's previous record of 89,019, set just seven days earlier during the match between New Zealand and Argentina.^{[5] [6]}
• This was the 300th match in Rugby World Cup history.^[7]

France vs Canada

FB 15 Scott Spedding RW 14 Rémy Grosso OC 13 IC 12 Wesley Fofana LW 11 Brice Dulin FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c) RL 5 Yoann Maestri LL 4 Pascal Papé TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Philippe Saint-André

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Ciaran Hearn IC 12 Nick Blevins LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10 Nathan Hirayama SH 9 N8 8 Tyler Ardron (c) OF 7 BF 6 Kyle Gilmour RL 5 Jamie Cudmore LL 4 Brett Beukeboom TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FB 22 CE 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

Man of the Match: Frédéric Michalak (France) Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Rémy Grosso (France) made his international debut.^[8]

Ireland vs Italy

FB 15 Simon Zebo RW 14 Tommy Bowe OC 13 IC 12 Robbie Henshaw LW 11 Dave Kearney FH 10 Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Paul O'Connell (c) LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Eoin Reddan FH 22 Ian Madigan WG 23 Coach: Joe Schmidt

FB 15 Luke McLean RW 14 Leonardo Sarto OC 13 Michele Campagnaro IC 12 LW 11 Giovanbattista Venditti FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c) OF 7 BF 6 Francesco Minto RL 5 Joshua Furno LL 4 Quintin Geldenhuys TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Jacques Brunel

Man of the Match: Iain Henderson (Ireland) Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Canada vs Romania

FB 15 RW 14 Jeff Hassler OC 13 Ciaran Hearn IC 12 LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10 Nathan Hirayama SH 9 N8 8 Aaron Carpenter OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Jamie Cudmore (c) LL 4 Brett Beukeboom TP 3 HK 2 Ray Barkwill LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Benoît Piffero PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 Kyle Gilmour FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

FB 15 RW 14 Mădălin Lemnaru OC 13 Paula Kinikinilau IC 12 Florin Vlaicu LW 11 Ionuț Botezatu FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Mihai Macovei (c) OF 7 BF 6 Valentin Ursache RL 5 Johan van Heerden LL 4 Valentin Popârlan TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 Stelian Burcea SH 21 WG 22 Adrian Apostol CE 23 Coach: Lynn Howells

Man of the Match: Jeff Hassler (Canada) Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Mihai Lazăr and Valentin Popârlan (Romania) earned their 50th test caps.^[9]
• This match was the biggest comeback in Rugby World Cup history.^[10]

Italy vs Romania

FB 15 RW 14 Leonardo Sarto OC 13 IC 12 Tommaso Benvenuti LW 11 Giovanbattista Venditti FH 10 Tommaso Allan SH 9 N8 8 Alessandro Zanni OF 7 BF 6 Francesco Minto RL 5 LL 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (c) TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Jacques Brunel

FB 15 Cătălin Fercu RW 14 Mădălin Lemnaru OC 13 Paula Kinikinilau IC 12 Florin Vlaicu LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Daniel Carpo OF 7 BF 6 Valentin Ursache (c) RL 5 LL 4 Valentin Popârlan TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 CE 23 Coach: Lynn Howells

Man of the Match: Edoardo Gori (Italy) Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Andrei Rădoi (Romania) earned his 50th test cap.^[11]
• Tudorel Bratu (Romania) made his international debut.

France vs Ireland

FB 15 Scott Spedding RW 14 Noa Nakaitaci OC 13 IC 12 Wesley Fofana LW 11 Brice Dulin FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c) RL 5 Yoann Maestri 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: Philippe Saint-André

FB 15 Rob Kearney RW 14 Tommy Bowe OC 13 IC 12 Robbie Henshaw LW 11 Dave Kearney FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 RL 5 Paul O'Connell (c) LL 4 Devin Toner TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Joe Schmidt

Man of the Match: Seán O'Brien (Ireland) Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Notes:

• Louis Picamoles (France) earned his 50th test cap.^{[12] [13]}

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: Huget injury overshadows France victory . 19 September 2015. ESPN. 24 September 2015.
4. Web site: Italy fire up their World Cup campaign with comeback win over Canada . The Guardian . 26 September 2015 . 29 September 2015 .
5. Web site: RWC 2015 breaks another record at Wembley Stadium. rugbybworldcup.com. rugbyworldcup.com. 14 September 2017.
6. News: Ireland 44-10 Romania . BBC Sport . 27 September 2015 . 29 September 2015 .
7. https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/648162447749083136
8. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: France 41-18 Canada. 1 October 2015. BBC Sport. 2 October 2015.
9. Web site: Vlaicu completes dramatic comeback for Romania . ESPN . 6 October 2015 . 9 October 2015 .
10. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Canada 15-17 Romania. 6 October 2015. 14 September 2017. www.bbc.co.uk.
11. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Italy 32-22 Romania . 11 October 2015 . BBC Sport . 13 October 2015 .
12. Web site: Ireland overpower France to avoid New Zealand in World Cup quarter-finals . 11 October 2015 . The Guardian . 13 October 2015 .
13. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2015: Ireland 24-9 France . 11 October 2015 . BBC Sport . 13 October 2015 .