2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A Explained

Pool A of the 2023 Rugby World Cup began on 8 September 2023 and concluded on 6 October 2023. The pool included hosts France and previous three-time champions New Zealand, along with Italy, Uruguay and Namibia.^[1] Hosts France and New Zealand, whom France had defeated in the opening match, qualified from the pool.

Teams

	Team	Band	Confederation	Method of qualification	Date of qualification			Previous best performance	World Rugby Rankings[2]
1 January 2020	4 September 2023
A1	style=white-space:nowrap		1		Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool	6 October 2019	10th		data-sort-value="7.3"	Winners (1987, 2011, 2015)	2	4
A2	style=white-space:nowrap		2		data-sort-value="*"	Hosts	15 November 2017	10th		data-sort-value="6.3"	Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011)	7	3
A3	style=white-space:nowrap		3			8 October 2019	10th		data-sort-value="2.9"	Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)	12	13
A4	style=white-space:nowrap		4			9 October 2021	5th		data-sort-value="5.1"		18	17
A5	style=white-space:nowrap		5			10 July 2022	7th		data-sort-value="2.6"	Pool stage (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)	23	21

Notes

Overview

The opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was played between hosts France and three-time champions New Zealand. France won 27–13, courtesy of tries from Damian Penaud and Melvyn Jaminet. Mark Tele'a scored the first try of the tournament for New Zealand after less than two minutes, making it the quickest try in an opening match of a Rugby World Cup.^[3] The loss was New Zealand's first ever in the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup.^[4] The next day, Italy won their opening match against Namibia by a score of 52–8.^[5] On 14 September, Uruguay played their first match of the tournament against hosts France, which France came out victorious with a scoreline of 27–12.^[6] The next day, New Zealand bounced back from their opening day defeat against France with 11 tries over Namibia in a 71–3 victory, despite losing Ethan de Groot to a red card for a dangerous collision.^[7] Five days later, Italy recorded a 38–17 bonus point victory over Uruguay, following a second-half comeback which previously saw them trail 17–7.^[8] The next day, France recorded their largest ever victory in a 96–0 victory over Namibia to move them on the brink of qualification to the knockout stage, while officially eliminating Namibia from the tournament. Thirteen tries were scored by France, who lost captain and key player Antoine Dupont to an injury from the match.^[9]

Namibia played their final match of the tournament against Uruguay in Décines-Charpieu. Namibia went ahead with two early tries from Gerswin Mouton and J. C. Greyling, along with successful penalties and conversions from Tiaan Swanepoel. However, Uruguay turned it around in the second half with tries from Baltazar Amaya, Santiago Arata and Bautista Basso to earn the Uruguayans their first victory of the tournament in a 36–26 victory and deny Namibia their first ever victory in a Rugby World Cup.^[10] Two days later, New Zealand faced Italy knowing that a defeat would mean that they would be eliminated from the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time ever. However, the All Blacks came out comfortable winners in the end as they starred in a fourteen-try show in Décines-Charpieu to move to the brink of qualification to the quarter-finals. Aaron Smith scored a hat-trick of tries after just 34 minutes in the bonus-point victory.^[11]

In the final matchweek of the pool, New Zealand and Uruguay faced off in Décines-Charpieu for their final matches to try and push for a place in the knockout stage. The All Blacks ran out comfortable winners, inspired by Damian McKenzie who scored two tries and kicked two conversions, in a 73–0 victory that officially saw them qualify for the quarter-finals while officially eliminating Uruguay from the tournament. All that remained in Pool A was the final match between hosts France and Italy to officially decide who would join New Zealand in the knockout stage. Both sides were assured to finish in the top three, meaning they were both assured a place in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, along with the All Blacks.^[12] The final match of Pool A took place the following day, with France sweeping aside Italy with a 60–7 scoreline in Décines-Charpieu with eight tries in a match to ensure that France qualified as they topped Group A, New Zealand qualified in second and Italy suffered elimination from the tournament as they finished third, but qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.^[13]

Standings

Matches

France vs New Zealand

FB 15 RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Gaël Fickou IC 12 LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Matthieu Jalibert SH 9 Antoine Dupont (c) N8 8 Grégory Alldritt OF 7 Charles Ollivon BF 6 RL 5 Thibaud Flament LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Fabien Galthié

FB 15 Beauden Barrett RW 14 OC 13 Rieko Ioane IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Richie Mo'unga SH 9 N8 8 Ardie Savea (c) OF 7 Dalton Papalii BF 6 RL 5 Scott Barrett LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Ian Foster

Player of the Match: Grégory Alldritt (France)[14] Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Tom Foley (England)

Notes:

• Antoine Dupont (France) and Nepo Laulala (New Zealand) earned their 50th test caps.^[15]
• Sam Cane was originally named in the New Zealand starting XV as captain, but withdrew prior to the match after sustaining an injury in the team's final training session. He was replaced by Tupou Vaa'i, whose place on the bench was taken by Brodie Retallick, while the captaincy was handed over to Ardie Savea.^[16]
• This was New Zealand's first defeat in a Rugby World Cup pool stage fixture, and their heaviest defeat in a World Cup match.^{[17] [18]}
• Mark Tele'a (New Zealand) scored the fastest try in a Rugby World Cup opening match, at 91 seconds.^[19]

Italy vs Namibia

FB 15 Tommaso Allan RW 14 Ange Capuozzo OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Monty Ioane FH 10 Paolo Garbisi SH 9 N8 8 Lorenzo Cannone OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c) BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

FB 15 Divan Rossouw RW 14 OC 13 Johan Deysel (c) IC 12 LW 11 J. C. Greyling FH 10 Tiaan Swanepoel SH 9 N8 8 Richard Hardwick OF 7 Johan Retief BF 6 RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi 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: Allister Coetzee

Player of the Match: Lorenzo Cannone (Italy)[20] Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Notes:

• This was Italy's largest victory (by margin) at the World Cup, surpassing their previous best of 41 points over Canada at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and also their largest victory over Namibia.^[21]

France vs Uruguay

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey OC 13 Arthur Vincent IC 12 Yoram Moefana LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Antoine Hastoy SH 9 N8 8 Anthony Jelonch (c) OF 7 Sekou Macalou BF 6 Paul Boudehent 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 FB 23 Thomas Ramos Coach: Fabien Galthié

FB 15 Baltazar Amaya RW 14 Bautista Basso OC 13 Tomás Inciarte IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca (c) LW 11 Nicolás Freitas FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Santiago Civetta BF 6 RL 5 Manuel Leindekar LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 FH 23 Coach: Esteban Meneses

Player of the Match: Maxime Lucu (France)[22] Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two sides at the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand vs Namibia

FB 15 RW 14 Caleb Clarke OC 13 Anton Lienert-Brown IC 12 LW 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku FH 10 Damian McKenzie SH 9 N8 8 Ardie Savea (c) OF 7 Dalton Papalii BF 6 RL 5 Sam Whitelock 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: Ian Foster

FB 15 Cliven Loubser RW 14 Gerswin Mouton OC 13 Johan Deysel (c) IC 12 LW 11 Divan Rossouw FH 10 Tiaan Swanepoel SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Tjiuee Uanivi LL 4 Johan Retief TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 FL 21 SH 22 CE 23 Coach: Allister Coetzee

Player of the Match: Cam Roigard (New Zealand)[23] Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Notes:

• This was the first ever match which New Zealand performed Kapa o Pango against a Tier 2 nation.
• Sam Whitelock equalled the New Zealand test cap record, with 148 caps, drawing level with Richie McCaw.^[24]

Italy vs Uruguay

FB 15 Ange Capuozzo RW 14 OC 13 Ignacio Brex IC 12 Paolo Garbisi LW 11 Monty Ioane FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c) BF 6 RL 5 Federico Ruzza LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: PR 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

FB 15 RW 14 Gastón Mieres OC 13 IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca (c) LW 11 FH 10 Felipe Etcheverry SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Santiago Civetta BF 6 Manuel Ardao RL 5 Manuel Leindekar 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: Esteban Meneses

Player of the Match: Michele Lamaro (Italy)[25] Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Tom Foley (England)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two sides at a World Cup.
• Sebastian Negri (Italy) earned his 50th test cap.^[26]
• Luca Bigi was originally named as the replacement hooker on the Italy bench, but withdrew prior to the match due to injury. He was replaced by Ivan Nemer, who took the position of substitute loosehead prop, while Federico Zani shifted across to the role of hooker.^[27]

France vs Namibia

FB 15 Thomas Ramos RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Gaël Fickou IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey FH 10 SH 9 Antoine Dupont (c) N8 8 OF 7 Charles Ollivon BF 6 François Cros RL 5 Thibaud Flament LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Fabien Galthié

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Johan Deysel (c) IC 12 Danco Burger LW 11 J. C. Greyling FH 10 Cliven Loubser SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Johan Retief BF 6 Max Katjijeko RL 5 Adriaan Ludick LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Allister Coetzee

Player of the Match: Damian Penaud (France)[28] Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Notes:

• This was France's largest victory in test match history, and also their largest victory at the World Cup – surpassing their 87–10 win, also against Namibia, at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.^{[29] [30]}
• Oela Blaauw (Namibia) made his international debut.^[31]

Uruguay vs Namibia

FB 15 Baltazar Amaya RW 14 Bautista Basso OC 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca (c) LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Carlos Deus OF 7 BF 6 Manuel Ardao RL 5 Manuel Leindekar 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: Esteban Meneses

FB 15 Cliven Loubser RW 14 OC 13 Alcino Izaacs IC 12 Danco Burger LW 11 FH 10 Tiaan Swanepoel SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Tjiuee Uanivi (c) BF 6 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 FH 23 Coach: Allister Coetzee

Player of the Match: Santiago Arata (Uruguay)[32] Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two sides at a World Cup.
• Namibia achieved their highest points total in a World Cup match, surpassing the 25 points scored against Fiji in 2011.
• Uruguay achieved their highest points total in a World Cup march, surpassing the 30 points scored against Fiji in 2019.

New Zealand vs Italy

FB 15 Beauden Barrett RW 14 Will Jordan OC 13 Rieko Ioane IC 12 LW 11 Mark Tele'a FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Ardie Savea (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Scott Barrett LL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach: Ian Foster

FB 15 RW 14 Ange Capuozzo OC 13 Ignacio Brex IC 12 Luca Morisi LW 11 Monty Ioane FH 10 Paolo Garbisi SH 9 N8 8 Lorenzo Cannone OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c) BF 6 RL 5 Federico Ruzza LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 N8 21 SH 22 WG 23 Coach: Kieran Crowley

Player of the Match: Ardie Savea (New Zealand)[33] Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

• Sam Whitelock became the most capped New Zealand player in test history, with 149 appearances, and the second most capped test player overall, behind only Wales international Alun Wyn Jones.^[34]

New Zealand vs Uruguay

FB 15 Damian McKenzie RW 14 Will Jordan OC 13 Anton Lienert-Brown IC 12 LW 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Luke Jacobson OF 7 Sam Cane (c) BF 6 RL 5 Tupou Vaa'i 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: Ian Foster

FB 15 Rodrigo Silva RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Andrés Vilaseca (c) LW 11 Nicolás Freitas FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Lucas Bianchi BF 6 Manuel Ardao RL 5 Manuel Leindekar 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: Esteban Meneses

Player of the Match: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)[35] Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

• This was the first ever meeting between these two sides.
• Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) became only the second player in history to earn 150 test caps. He also became the most capped player at the World Cup, with 23 appearances across four tournaments, surpassing Jason Leonard and Richie McCaw.
• This was the fifth match at the 2023 World Cup where the losing team failed to score any points – a new record for a single tournament, surpassing 2007 and 2019.

France vs Italy

FB 15 RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey FH 10 Matthieu Jalibert SH 9 N8 8 Grégory Alldritt OF 7 Charles Ollivon (c) BF 6 Anthony Jelonch RL 5 LL 4 Cameron Woki TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Fabien Galthié

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Ignacio Brex IC 12 Paolo Garbisi LW 11 Monty Ioane FH 10 Tommaso Allan SH 9 N8 8 Lorenzo Cannone OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c) BF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 Federico Ruzza LL 4 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

Player of the Match: Grégory Alldritt (France)[36] Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

• Simone Ferrari and Luca Morisi (Italy) earned their 50th test caps.
• This was France's biggest ever win over Italy (by margin).

References

1. Web site: Hosts France to face New Zealand in blockbuster RWC 2023 opening match. 26 February 2021. 17 July 2021.
2. Web site: Men's Ranking . . 29 January 2023.
3. Web site: Mike. Henson. Hosts record impressive opening World Cup win over three-time champions. 8 September 2023. 11 September 2023. BBC Sport.
4. Web site: McConnell . Lynn . France Too Strong in World Cup Opener . allblacks.com . 9 September 2023 . 9 October 2023.
5. Web site: Phil. Cartwright. Italy start Rugby World Cup with bonus-point win. 9 September 2023. 11 September 2023. BBC Sport.
6. Web site: Hosts maintain winning Rugby World Cup start with hard-earned victory. 14 September 2023. 15 September 2023. BBC Sport.
7. Web site: All Blacks run in 11 tries but Ethan de Groot sent off. 15 September 2023. 15 September 2023. BBC Sport.
8. Web site: Second-half fightback secures Rugby World Cup win. 20 September 2023. 21 September 2023. BBC Sport.
9. Web site: Antoine Dupont injured as hosts score 14 tries in Marseille. 21 September 2023. 22 September 2023. BBC Sport.
10. Web site: Alastair. Telfer. Second-half fightback denies Namibia first Rugby World Cup win. 27 September 2023. 28 September 2023. BBC Sport.
11. Web site: Joe. Rindl. All Blacks move to cusp of Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. 29 September 2023. 29 September 2023. BBC Sport.
12. Web site: Alastair. Telfer. All Blacks reach quarter-finals with 11-try win. 5 October 2023. 5 October 2023. BBC Sport.
13. Web site: Emma. Smith. Hosts earn crushing win to reach World Cup quarter-finals. 6 October 2023. 6 October 2023. BBC Sport.
14. News: France beat 'beautiful and fabulous' New Zealand 27-13 in opener . rugbyworldcup.com . World Rugby . 8 September 2023 . 9 September 2023.
15. News: Antoine Dupont could be rugby's biggest star since Jonah Lomu . www.telegraph.co.uk . The Telegraph . 7 September 2023 . 8 September 2023.
16. News: Rugby World Cup: All Blacks captain Sam Cane ruled out of match against France . Stuff.co.nz . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023.
17. News: France hand All Blacks their first-ever Rugby World Cup pool stage defeat . www.planetrugby.com . Planet Rugby . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023.
18. News: All Blacks claim they can still lift trophy after suffering heaviest World Cup defeat . www.smh.com.au . The Sydney Morning Herald . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023.
19. News: Watch: All Blacks stun the Stade de France with record-breaking try in Rugby World Cup opener against France . www.planetrugby.com . Planet Rugby . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023.
20. News: Italy defeat Namibia 52-8 in Pool A . rugbyworldcup.com . World Rugby . 9 September 2023 . 9 September 2023.
21. News: Barbacci . Roberto . 9 September 2023 . Mondiali Rugby, Italia–Namibia è una vittoria da record per gli Azzurri. Ma c'è chi storce il naso . Rugby World Cup, Italy–Namibia is a record win for the Azzurri. But some turn their noses up at it . live . . Italian . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230909183424/https://sport.virgilio.it/italia-namibia-mondiali-rugby-2023-833557 . 9 September 2023 . 10 September 2023.
22. News: France pushed hard by Uruguay but seal 27-12 win . rugbyworldcup.com . World Rugby . 14 September 2023 . 15 September 2023.
23. News: NZL 71-3 NAM: New Zealand score 11 tries to brush aside Namibia . rugbyworldcup.com . World Rugby . 15 September 2023 . 15 September 2023.
24. News: 'It's a great honour': Sam Whitelock to match Richie McCaw's All Blacks record . www.rugbypass.com . Rugby Pass . 13 September 2023 . 13 September 2023.
25. News: ITA 38-17 URU: Italy come from behind to beat Uruguay . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 20 September 2023 . 20 September 2023.
26. News: Italy's Negri wary of dangerous Uruguay . www.reuters.com . Reuters . 17 September 2023 . 17 September 2023.
27. News: Italy v Uruguay, Rugby World Cup 2023 . www.ultimaterugby.com . Ultimate Rugby . 21 September 2023 . 21 September 2023.
28. Web site: France v Namibia LIVE: Final score, result and reaction as Rugby World Cup hosts claim record win . aol.com . AOL . 21 September 2023 . 21 September 2023.
29. News: France rack up record score in huge Rugby World Cup win over Namibia . www.independent.co.uk . The Independent . 21 September 2023 . 21 September 2023.
30. News: Antoine Dupont injury overshadows France's record 96-0 win over Namibia . 21 September 2023 . . 27 September 2023.
31. News: Namibia rotate squad for World Cup clash with hosts France . www.reuters.com . Reuters . 19 September 2023 . 21 September 2023.
32. News: URU 36-26 NAM: Uruguay comeback denies Namibia first ever Rugby World Cup win . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 27 September 2023 . 27 September 2023.
33. News: NZL 96-17 ITA: All Blacks turn on the style in spectacular 14-try show . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023.
34. News: Sam Whitelock breaks All Blacks appearance record against Italy . www.rugbyworld.com . Rugby World . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023.
35. News: NZL 73-0: McKenzie inspires 11-try All Blacks to claim quarter-final spot . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 5 October 2023 . 5 October 2023.
36. News: FRA 60-7 ITA: France surge into quarter-finals after topping Pool A . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 6 October 2023 . 6 October 2023.

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