2023 Rugby World Cup Pool D Explained

See main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup. Pool D of the 2023 Rugby World Cup began on 9 September 2023 and concluded on 8 October 2023. The pool included 2003 champions and 2019 runner-ups England, previous hosts Japan, and Argentina. They are joined by Samoa, the winner of the Oceania 1 qualifier, and tournament debutants Chile (Americas 2).^[1] England topped the group and Argentina placed second, thus allowing both teams to progress.

Teams

	Team	Band	Confederation	Method of qualification	Date of qualification			Previous best performance	World Rugby Rankings^[2]
1 January 2020	4 September 2023
D1	style=white-space:nowrap		1		Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool	5 October 2019	10th		data-sort-value="7.1"	Winners (2003)	3	8
D2		2			5 October 2019	10th		data-sort-value="3.1"	Quarter-finals (2019)	8	14
D3	style=white-space:nowrap		3			9 October 2019	10th		data-sort-value="5.1"	Third place (2007)	10	6
D4	style=white-space:nowrap		4			17 July 2021	9th		data-sort-value="3.2"	Quarter-finals (1991, 1995)	15	12
D5	style=white-space:nowrap		5			16 July 2022	1st	colspan=2	29	22

Notes

Overview

In the opening match of Pool D, England defeated Argentina by 27–10. Despite losing Tom Curry to a red card for a dangerous head-to-head with Juan Cruz Mallía, England went over the line courtesy of a player-of-the-match performance from George Ford who scored three drop goals and six penalties, with Argentina's Rodrigo Bruni scoring the only try of the match.^[3] Japan faced debutants Chile the following day, in which Japan came out winners in a score of 42–12 despite the best efforts of Chile in their first World Cup appearance.^[4] After a six day rest, Samoa played their first match of the pool against Chile in which they came out with a 43–10 bonus-point victory in Bordeaux.^[5] The next day, England secured a bonus point victory over Japan in a 34–12 win.^[6]

On 22 September, Argentina defeated Samoa with a scoreline of 19–10, with Emiliano Boffelli securing a converted try and 3 penalties, earning him player of the match. The result left the group finely poised and lifted hopes of progression to the knockout stage for Argentina.^[7] The next day, England moved on to the brink of qualifying for the knockout stage, after defeating Chile with a scoreline of 71–0 with Henry Arundell earning player of the match having scored five tries in the match. Chile were officially eliminated from the tournament following the result.^[8] As Pool D began to near its conclusion, Japan faced Samoa on 28 September in a match of high stakes for both sides. Tries from Lappies Labuschagné, Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno secured Japan a 28–22 victory over the Samoans to boost their hopes of progression to the knockout stage, while officially securing England's place who were thus confirmed to top the pool. Samoa, who lost Ben Lam to a red card for an upright tackle, were left requiring a victory in their final match against England to have a chance at progression.^[9] Two days later, on 30 September, Chile played their last match of their first ever Rugby World Cup against Argentina in Nantes in what was the first ever meeting between two South American sides in a World Cup. The Argentinians raced to a 59–5 victory over the Chileans, scoring eight tries along with strong kicking from Nicolás Sánchez and Santiago Carreras to set up a showdown with Japan on the final matchday to decide who would join England in the quarter-finals.

On 7 October, England played their final match of the pool against Samoa in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Despite a valiant effort from the Samoans, who scored two tries through Nigel Ah Wong, England edged the match in an 18–17 victory from a Danny Care try in the 73rd minute to give the English a full house of wins from Pool D as they headed into the quarter-finals while eliminating any hope of Samoa progressing themselves, which place Argentina and Japan in the 2027 Rugby World Cup before the match between two nations.^[10] All that remained in the pool was the final match the following day between Japan and Argentina to decide who would finish second and join England in the knockout stage. The high stakes match took place in Nantes, where Mateo Carreras scored a hat-trick as Argentina came out 39–27 victors in a 66-point thriller to finish second in the pool and send themselves through to the quarter-finals with England who topped Pool D and left Japan eliminated from the tournament as they finished in third place.^[11]

Standings

Matches

England vs Argentina

FB 15 Freddie Steward RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Joe Marchant IC 12 LW 11 Elliot Daly FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Ben Earl OF 7 BF 6 Courtney Lawes (c) RL 5 LL 4 Maro Itoje 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 Borthwick

FB 15 RW 14 Emiliano Boffelli OC 13 Lucio Cinti IC 12 Santiago Chocobares LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Marcos Kremer BF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Julián Montoya (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

Player of the Match: George Ford (England)^[12] Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Pierre Brousset (France) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

• Tom Curry became the first England player to be sent off at a Rugby World Cup. It was also the fastest red card in a World Cup match, and the first ever to be issued at the tournament via the World Rugby foul play review process (a system introduced in August 2023, during the Summer Nations Series).^[13]

Japan vs Chile

FB 15 RW 14 Kotaro Matsushima OC 13 IC 12 Ryōto Nakamura LW 11 FH 10 Rikiya Matsuda SH 9 Yutaka Nagare (c) N8 8 Jack Cornelsen OF 7 BF 6 Michael Leitch RL 5 LL 4 Amanaki Saumaki TP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 Asaeli Ai Valu LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Jamie Joseph

FB 15 Iñaki Ayarza RW 14 Santiago Videla OC 13 Domingo Saavedra IC 12 Nicolás Garafulic LW 11 FH 10 Rodrigo Fernández SH 9 Marcelo Torrealba N8 8 Alfonso Escobar OF 7 BF 6 Martín Sigren (c) RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Javier Carrasco Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Salvador Lues PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 Lukas Carvallo CE 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Player of the Match: Amato Fakatava (Japan)^[14] Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Tom Foley (England)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two nations.
• This was Chile's first game at a Rugby World Cup.^[15]
• Keita Inagaki (Japan) earned his 50th test cap.^[16]
• Kazuki Himeno was originally named in the starting line-up for Japan, but withdrew prior to the match due to a calf injury. He was replaced in the back row by Jack Cornelsen, whose initial position in the second row was taken by Amanaki Saumaki, while the captaincy was handed over to Yutaka Nagare.^[17]

Samoa vs Chile

FB 15 Duncan Paia'aua RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Nigel Ah Wong FH 10 Christian Leali'ifano SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Fritz Lee BF 6 Taleni Seu RL 5 Theo McFarland LL 4 TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Seilala Mapusua

FB 15 Iñaki Ayarza RW 14 OC 13 Domingo Saavedra IC 12 Matías Garafulic LW 11 José Larenas FH 10 Rodrigo Fernández SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Martín Sigren (c) RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 CE 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Player of the Match: Theo McFarland (Samoa)^[18] Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two nations.^[19]
• Benjamín Videla (Chile) made his international debut.^[20]

England vs Japan

FB 15 RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Joe Marchant IC 12 LW 11 Elliot Daly FH 10 George Ford SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Ben Earl BF 6 Courtney Lawes (c) RL 5 LL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Steve Borthwick

FB 15 RW 14 Kotaro Matsushima OC 13 Tomoki Osada IC 12 Ryōto Nakamura LW 11 FH 10 Rikiya Matsuda SH 9 N8 8 Kazuki Himeno (c) OF 7 BF 6 Michael Leitch RL 5 LL 4 Jack Cornelsen TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Jamie Joseph

Player of the Match: George Ford (England)^[21] Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Notes:

• This was the first match between England and Japan at a Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987, when the two nations met in the pool stages.^{[22] [23]}

Argentina vs Samoa

FB 15 Juan Cruz Mallía RW 14 Emiliano Boffelli OC 13 IC 12 Santiago Chocobares LW 11 Mateo Carreras FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Marcos Kremer BF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 LL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 HK 2 Julián Montoya (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

FB 15 RW 14 Nigel Ah Wong OC 13 IC 12 Tumua Manu LW 11 Ben Lam FH 10 Christian Leali'ifano SH 9 Jonathan Taumateine N8 8 OF 7 Fritz Lee BF 6 Theo McFarland RL 5 Chris Vui (c) LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 Melani Matavao CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Seilala Mapusua

Player of the Match: Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)^[24] Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

• Ben Lam (Samoa) made his international debut.^[25]

England vs Chile

FB 15 Marcus Smith RW 14 Henry Arundell OC 13 IC 12 Ollie Lawrence LW 11 FH 10 Owen Farrell (c) SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Jack Willis BF 6 RL 5 George Martin LL 4 David Ribbans 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 Borthwick

FB 15 Francisco Urroz RW 14 Cristobal Game OC 13 Domingo Saavedra IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Rodrigo Fernández SH 9 Benjamín Videla N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 Martín Sigren (c) RL 5 LL 4 Clemente Saavedra TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Player of the Match: Henry Arundell (England)^[26] Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two nations.
• England recorded their first ever clean sheet in a World Cup match.
• With five tries, Henry Arundell equalled the England record for most tries scored by one player in a test match (shared with Douglas Lambert, Josh Lewsey and Rory Underwood).^[27]

Japan vs Samoa

FB 15 Lomano Lemeki RW 14 Kotaro Matsushima OC 13 Dylan Riley IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Kazuki Himeno (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Amato Fakatava 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: Jamie Joseph

FB 15 Duncan Paia'aua RW 14 OC 13 Tumua Manu IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Christian Leali'ifano SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Fritz Lee (c) BF 6 RL 5 Theo McFarland LL 4 Steven Luatua TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 FB 23 Coach: Seilala Mapusua

Player of the Match: Lomano Lemeki (Japan)^[28] Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

• Kenta Fukuda (Japan) made his international debut.^[29]
• Yutaka Nagare was originally named in the starting line-up for Japan, but withdrew prior to the match due to injury. He was replaced by Naoto Saitō, whose place on the bench was taken by Kenta Fukuda.^[30]
• Chris Vui was originally named in the starting line-up for Samoa as captain, but withdrew prior to the match due to injury. He was replaced by Steven Luatua, whose place on the bench was taken by Brian Alainu'uese, while the captaincy was transferred to Fritz Lee.^[30]

Argentina vs Chile

FB 15 Martín Bogado RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (c) LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Facundo Isa OF 7 BF 6 Juan Martín González RL 5 Pedro Rubiolo 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: Michael Cheika

FB 15 RW 14 Santiago Videla OC 13 Domingo Saavedra IC 12 Matías Garafulic LW 11 FH 10 Rodrigo Fernández SH 9 N8 8 Raimundo Martínez OF 7 Clemente Saavedra BF 6 Martín Sigren (c) RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Player of the Match: Nicolás Sánchez (Argentina)^[31] Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland)^[32] Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two nations at a Rugby World Cup, and the first meeting between any two South American teams in the competition.^[33]
• Nicolás Sánchez became the second Argentine rugby player to earn 100 test caps.^[34]

England vs Samoa

FB 15 Freddie Steward RW 14 Joe Marchant OC 13 IC 12 Owen Farrell (c) LW 11 Jonny May FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Ben Earl OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Ollie Chessum LL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 Theo Dan PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Steve Borthwick

FB 15 Duncan Paia'aua RW 14 Nigel Ah Wong OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Neria Fomai FH 10 Lima Sopoaga SH 9 N8 8 Steven Luatua OF 7 BF 6 Theo McFarland RL 5 Brian Alainu'uese LL 4 TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 So'otala Fa'aso'o FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 FL 23 Coach: Seilala Mapusua

Player of the Match: Lima Sopoaga (Samoa)^[35] Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Notes:

• Owen Farrell became England's all-time top points scorer, breaking the previous record of 1,179 points which was held by Jonny Wilkinson.^[36]
• This was the only match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in which the Player of the Match was selected from the losing team.^[37]

Japan vs Argentina

FB 15 Lomano Lemeki RW 14 OC 13 Dylan Riley IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Rikiya Matsuda SH 9 Naoto Saitō N8 8 Kazuki Himeno (c) OF 7 BF 6 Michael Leitch RL 5 LL 4 Jack Cornelsen TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 SH 21 Kenta Fukuda CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Jamie Joseph

FB 15 Juan Cruz Mallía RW 14 Emiliano Boffelli OC 13 IC 12 Santiago Chocobares LW 11 Mateo Carreras FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Juan Martín González OF 7 Marcos Kremer BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 HK 2 Julián Montoya (c) LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Michael Cheika

Player of the Match: Mateo Carreras (Argentina)^[38] Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

References

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2. Web site: Men's Ranking . . 29 January 2023.
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4. Web site: Phil. Cartwright. Rugby World Cup debutants beaten in Toulouse. 10 September 2023. 12 September 2023. BBC Sport.
5. Web site: Alastair. Telfer. Samoa begin Rugby World Cup with bonus-point win. 16 September 2023. 16 September 2023. BBC Sport.
6. Web site: Mike. Henson. England run in four tries to beat Brave Blossoms. 17 September 2023. 17 September 2023. BBC Sport.
7. Web site: Emiliano Boffelli stars as Pumas kickstart World Cup campaign. 22 September 2023. 22 September 2023. BBC Sport.
8. Web site: Mike. Henson. Henry Arundell scores five tries in Rugby World Cup pool game. 23 September 2023. 23 September 2023. BBC Sport.
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16. News: Japan vs Chile Preview - RWC 2023 Pool D Pool Match . www.rugbyasia247.com . Rugby Asia 24/7 . 8 September 2023 . 10 September 2023.
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23. Web site: England vs Japan 1987 . www.worldrugby.org . World Rugby . 15 September 2023.
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29. News: Japan's Victory Keeps Quarterfinal Dreams Alive at Rugby World Cup . en.rugby-japan.jp . Japan Rugby . 3 October 2023 . 3 October 2023.
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32. Web site: Emirates World Rugby Match Official appointment amendments . World Rugby . 28 September 2023 .
33. News: Los Pumas power past neighbours Chile in first all-South American Rugby World Cup test . Planet Rugby . 30 September 2023 . 30 September 2023.
34. News: Nicolas Sánchez Reaches 100 Test Caps for Argentina . www.americasrugbynews.com . Americas Rugby News . 28 September 2023 . 28 September 2023.
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38. News: JPN 27-39 ARG: Argentina beat Japan in thriller to reach quarter-finals . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 8 October 2023 . 8 October 2023.

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