2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C
Pool C of the 2019 Rugby World Cup began on 21 September 2019. The pool included previous World Cup hosts England and France, as well as the fourth-placed team from 2015, Argentina. They were joined by regional qualifiers from the Americas, United States (Americas 1), and Oceania, Tonga (Oceania 2), to become the first completed table ahead of the World Cup.
England and France both went unbeaten in their first three matches to guarantee qualification for the knockout stage, but their final match against each other was cancelled due to the effects of Typhoon Hagibis. England had earned a bonus point in all three of their matches, while France had just one, so England went through to the quarter-finals as pool winners. With bonus point victories against Tonga and the United States, Argentina claimed third place and the final automatic qualification spot for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while Tonga's win over the United States in the final pool match saw them finish fourth.
Overview
Pool C's opening match saw Argentina come back from a 17-point half-time deficit against France at Tokyo Stadium, only for France's Camille Lopez to score a game-winning drop goal in the 70th minute.[1] In Sapporo, two tries from Manu Tuilagi helped England to a bonus-point victory over Tonga.[2] England followed that up with a 38-point victory over the United States, with Joe Cokanasiga scoring two tries in the victory; however, the match was soured by the first red card of the tournament, shown to the United States' John Quill for a shoulder charge to the head of England's Owen Farrell.[3] Argentina bounced back from their defeat by France with a 28–12 victory over Tonga in Higashiōsaka; all of Argentina's scoring happened in the first 28 minutes, including a hat-trick from Julián Montoya as they raced to a 28-point lead before Tonga brought the margin back to 16 with two tries of their own.[4] After Typhoon Mitag almost cancelled the match,[5] the French were inconsistent with errors keeping the United States in the match before three late tries in the second half would secure a 33–9 win in Fukuoka.[6]
In Chōfu, England qualified for the quarter-finals with a 39–10 victory over Argentina with Argentinean player Tomás Lavanini being shown a red card, which forced Argentina down to 14 men as he was forced off due to a high tackle on Owen Farrell's head.[7] France would later join them in qualifying for the knockout stage with a two-point victory over Tonga at Kumamoto Stadium. After conceding the first 17 points of the match, Tonga came back into the match with tries from Sonatane Takulua and Mali Hingano to close the gap to only three points before Romain Ntamack gave the cushion that France needed with two penalties in eight minutes giving France the victory.[8] Argentina would become the first team to finish their matches of the 2019 World Cup, with a 47–17 victory over the United States in Kumagaya. Joaquín Tuculet and Juan Cruz Mallia each scored two tries in the meeting, their first since 2003.[9] After the England–France game was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis,[10] Tonga ended their World Cup campaign with a 31–19 victory over the United States. This was due to the Tongan's using their opportunities with them converting into tries and despite the United States being within striking range with three minutes to go, Telusa Veainu converted the match-winning try and a bonus-point victory for Tonga.[11] At the end of the pool stage, it was England winning the group with France finishing in second place.
Standings
Template:2019 Rugby World Cup pool stage key Template:2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C
All times are local Japan Standard Time (UTC+09)
France vs Argentina
21 September 2019 16:15 JST (UTC+09) |
France ![]() | 23–21 | ![]() |
Try: Fickou 18' c Dupont 22' c Con: Ntamack (2/2) 19', 23' Pen: Ntamack (2/3) 30', 40+1' Drop: Lopez (1/1) 70' | Report | Try: Petti Pagadizábal 42' c Montoya 54' m Con: Sánchez (1/2) 43' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 15' Urdapilleta (2/2) 61', 69' |
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu Attendance: 40,004 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Guido Petti Pagadizábal (Argentina) earned his 50th test cap.
England vs Tonga
22 September 2019 19:15 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) England ![]() | 35–3 | ![]() |
Try: Tuilagi (2) 24' m, 31' c George 57' c Cowan-Dickie 77' c Con: Farrell (3/4) 33', 58', 78' Pen: Farrell (3/3) 11', 37', 43' | Report | Pen: Takulua (1/2) 15' |
Sapporo Dome, Sapporo Attendance: 35,923 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand) |
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England vs United States
26 September 2019 19:45 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) England ![]() | 45–7 | ![]() |
Try: Ford 6' c B. Vunipola 25' c Cowan-Dickie 33' m Cokanasiga (2) 48' m, 76' c McConnochie 58' c Ludlam 67' c Con: Ford (5/7) 7', 26', 60', 68', 77' | Report | Try: Campbell 80+1' c Con: MacGinty (1/1) 80+2' |
Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe Attendance: 27,194 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
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Argentina vs Tonga
28 September 2019 13:45 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) Argentina ![]() | 28–12 | ![]() |
Try: Montoya (3) 7' c, 17' c, 26' c Carreras 20' c Con: Urdapilleta (4/4) 9', 19', 21', 28' | Report | Try: Veainu (2) 30' c, 66' m Con: Takulua (1/2) 32' |
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Attendance: 21,971 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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Notes:
- Agustín Creevy levelled Argentina's most capped player record, set by Felipe Contepomi with 87 caps.
France vs United States
2 October 2019 16:45 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) France ![]() | 33–9 | ![]() |
Try: Huget 6' c Raka 24' m Fickou 67' c Serin 70' c Poirot 79' c Con: Ramos (1/2) 8' Lopez (3/3) 68', 71', 80'+1 | Report | Pen: MacGinty (3/3) 19', 31', 65' |
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka Attendance: 17,660 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Gaël Fickou (France) earned his 50th test cap.
England vs Argentina
5 October 2019 17:00 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) England ![]() | 39–10 | ![]() |
Try: May 9' m Daly 35' m Youngs 40'+1 m Ford 45' c Nowell 74' c Cowan-Dickie 80' c Con: Farrell (3/6) 47', 76', 80+1' Pen: Farrell (1/2) 54' | Report | Try: Moroni 71' c Con: Boffelli (1/1) 72' Pen: Urdapilleta (1/1) 7' |
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu Attendance: 48,185 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
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Notes:
- Agustín Creevy became the most capped player for Argentina with 88 caps, surpassing Felipe Contepomi's record of 87.
- Tomás Lavanini's red card was a record fifth for a World Cup, surpassing the four given out in 1995 and 1999.
- With this loss for Argentina and France's win on the 6 October, Argentina fail to advance through to the knock-out stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2003.
- Angus Gardner was due to be part of the officiating team for this game, but swapped with Ben O'Keeffe's appointment between Japan and Samoa.
France vs Tonga
6 October 2019 16:45 JST (UTC+09) |
France ![]() | 23–21 | ![]() |
Try: Vakatawa 6' c Raka 32' c Con: Ntamack (2/2) 7', 34' Pen: Ntamack (3/4) 4', 52', 60' | Report | Try: Takulua 40' c Hingano 47' c Kapeli 79' c Con: Takulua (2/2) 40'+1, 49' Fosita (1/1) 80' |
Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto Attendance: 28,477 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
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Notes:
- Pierre-Louis Barassi (France) made his international debut.
Argentina vs United States
9 October 2019 13:45 JST (UTC+09) |
(1 BP) Argentina ![]() | 47–17 | ![]() |
Try: Sánchez 19' c Tuculet (2) 25' c, 35' m Mallia (2) 44' c, 48' c de la Fuente 57' c Bertranou 71' c Con: Sánchez (5/6) 21', 25', 45', 49', 57' Urdapilleta (1/1) 72' | Report | Try: Scully (2) 39' m, 80+3' m Lasike 60' c Con: MacGinty (1/2) 61' |
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya Attendance: 24,377 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Cam Dolan (United States) earned his 50th test cap.
England vs France
12 October 2019 17:15 JST (UTC+09) |
England ![]() | 0–0 (Cancelled) | ![]() |
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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Notes:
- As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis this match was cancelled and awarded as a 0–0 draw.[12]
United States vs Tonga
13 October 2019 14:45 JST (UTC+09) |
United States ![]() | 19–31 | ![]() |
Try: Te'o (2) 21' c, 26' m Lamborn 77' c Con: MacGinty (2/3) 22', 78' | Report | Try: Fisiihoi 17' c Hingano 58' c Piutau 62' c Veainu 80'+1 c Con: Takulua (2/2) 19', 60' Faiva (1/1) 64' Piutau (1/1) 80+2' Pen: Takulua (1/1) 51' |
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Attendance: 22,012 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
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References
- ^ "Rugby: Lopez's dropped goal saves France in 23–21 win vs. Argentina". Tokyo: The Mainichi. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ Kitson, Robert (22 September 2019). "Tuilagi double helps England kick off with bonus-point win against Tonga". Sapporo Dome: The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ Kitson, Robert (26 September 2019). "Cokanasiga helps England crush USA as Quill gets World Cup's first red card". The Guardian. Kobe Misaki Stadium. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup: Argentina blitz Tonga in first win". The Irish Times. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Typhoon threatens Rugby World Cup match between France and USA". SBS. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ Pugmire, Jerome (2 October 2019). "French score 5 tries in 33-9 win over U.S." Fukuoka: Japan Today. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ Philips, Mitch (5 October 2019). "England reach quarterfinals as red card cripples Pumas". Tokyo: Japan Today. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "France survive Tonga scare and set up England game to decide Pool C winner". The Guardian. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Argentina beats United States for farewell consolation win". Kumagaya: The Japan Times. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Typhoon Hagibis impact on Rugby World Cup 2019 matches". Rugby World Cup. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ Imray, Gerald (13 October 2019). "Tonga beats US 31-19, gets its win at Rugby World Cup 2019". Higashiōsaka: The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Typhoon Hagibis impact on Rugby World Cup 2019 matches". Rugby World Cup. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.