2021 Rugby World Cup Pool C

Pool C of the 2021 Rugby World Cup began on 8 October 2022 with France taking on South Africa at Eden Park. The pool includes two-time champions England and France, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 2017. They are joined by South Africa, who qualified as champions of the 2021 Rugby Africa Women's Cup, and by debutants Fiji, who qualified for the tournament with their win over Samoa.

Standings

Key to colours in pool tables
Advanced to the quarter-finals as one of the top two teams in a pool
Advanced to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third place teams
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts
1  England 3 3 0 0 172 26 +146 28 2 14
2  France 3 2 0 1 91 18 +73 14 3 11
3  Fiji 3 1 0 2 40 145 −105 6 0 4
4  South Africa 3 0 0 3 22 136 −114 3 1 1
Source: [citation needed]

All times are local New Zealand Daylight Time (UTC+13)

South Africa vs France

8 October 2022
14:15 NZDT (UTC+13)
South Africa 5–40 France (1 BP)
Try: Mabenge 50' mReportTry: Sansus (2) 2' c, 67' c
Vernier 11' m
Boulard 17' c
Drouin 70' c
Grisez 80+1' c
Con: Drouin (2/3) 3', 18'
Queyroi (3/3) 68', 71', 80+2'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 34,235
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Team details
FB 15 Nadine Roos
RW 14 Nomawethu Mabenge
OC 13 Zintle Mpupha
IC 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu
LW 11 Simamkele Namba  61'
FH 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg  25'
SH 9 Tayla Kinsey  50'
N8 8 Aseza Hele
OF 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa  58'
BF 6 Sizophila Solontsi  50'  60'
RL 5 Rights Mkhari  62'
LL 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c)
TP 3 Babalwa Latsha
HK 2 Lindelwa Gwala  68'
LP 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie  61'
Replacements:
HK 16 Roseline Botes  68'
PR 17 Asithandile Ntoyanto  61'
PR 18 Monica Mazibukwana
LK 19 Catha Jacobs  62'
FL 20 Lusanda Dumke  60'
SH 21 Unam Tose  50'
FH 22 Zenay Jordaan  25'
FB 23 Eloise Webb  61'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer
FB 15 Chloé Jacquet  73'
RW 14 Joanna Grisez
OC 13 Maëlle Filopon
IC 12 Gabrielle Vernier  62'
LW 11 Émilie Boulard
FH 10 Caroline Drouin
SH 9 Laure Sansus  70'
N8 8 Romane Ménager  70'
OF 7 Marjorie Mayans  73'
BF 6 Charlotte Escudero
RL 5 Madoussou Fall
LL 4 Céline Ferer (c)
TP 3 Clara Joyeux  73'
HK 2 Laure Touyé  54'
LP 1 Annaëlle Deshayes  55'
Replacements:
HK 16 Agathe Sochat  54'
PR 17 Coco Lindelauf  55'
PR 18 Assia Khalfaoui  73'
LK 19 Manaé Feleu  70'
FL 20 Émeline Gros  73'
SH 21 Pauline Bourdon  70'
FH 22 Lina Queyroi  62'
WG 23 Mélissande Llorens  73'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq

Player of the Match:
Laure Sansus (France)

Touch judges:
Sara Cox (England)
Kat Roche (United States)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

Fiji vs England

8 October 2022
16:45 NZDT (UTC+13)
Fiji 19–84 England (1 BP)
Try: Nakoci 31' c
Donu 40' c
Cavuru 80+1' m
Con: Cavuru (2/3) 32', 43'		ReportTry: MacDonald (4) 5' m, 56' m, 70' m, 76' c
Cokayne (2) 18' m, 42' m
Ward 27' c
Rowland 38' c
Aldcroft 45' c
Thompson (2) 50' c, 53' m
Dow 59' c
Infante 65' m
Powell 74' c
Con: Scarratt (5/9) 28', 39', 46', 51', 60'
Harrison (2/5) 75', 78'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 34,235
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Team details
FB 15 Roela Radiniyavuni
RW 14 Aloesi Nakoci
OC 13 Raijieli Laqeretabua  51'
IC 12 Sesenieli Donu
LW 11 Vitalina Naikore
FH 10 Merewalesi Rokouono  54'
SH 9 Lavena Cavuru
N8 8 Karalaini Naisewa  65'
OF 7 Ema Adivitaloga  51'
BF 6 Sulita Waisega
RL 5 Sereima Leweniqila (c)  38'
LL 4 Asinate Serevi  54'
TP 3 Vuanimasei Rasolea  51'
HK 2 Vika Matarugu  62'
LP 1 Iris Verebalavu  51'
Replacements:
HK 16 Bitila Tawake  62'
PR 17 Bulou Vasuturaga  51'
PR 18 Mereoni Namositava  51'
LK 19 Merevesi Ofakimalino  54'
FL 20 Raijieli Daveua  51'
SH 21 Akosita Ravato  65'
FH 22 Ana Maria Roqica  54'
CE 23 Melaia Matanatabu  51'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula
FB 15 Ellie Kildunne
RW 14 Lydia Thompson  57'
OC 13 Emily Scarratt  57'
IC 12 Helena Rowland
LW 11 Claudia MacDonald
FH 10 Zoe Harrison
SH 9 Leanne Infante  65'
N8 8 Sarah Hunter (c)  57'
OF 7 Sadia Kabeya
BF 6 Alex Matthews
RL 5 Abbie Ward
LL 4 Zoe Aldcroft
TP 3 Sarah Bern  51'
HK 2 Amy Cokayne  62'
LP 1 Victoria Cornborough  51'
Replacements:
HK 16 Connie Powell  62'
PR 17 Hannah Botterman  51'
PR 18 Maud Muir  51'
LK 19 Catherine O'Donnell  54'
FL 20 Poppy Cleall  57'
SH 21 Lucy Packer  65'
CE 22 Holly Aitchison  57'
WG 23 Abigail Dow  57'
Coach:
Simon Middleton

Player of the Match:
Sadia Kabeya (England)

Touch judges:
Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official:
Chris Assmus (Canada)

Notes:

  • This was the first meeting between the two nations.
  • This was Fiji's first World Cup game.
  • England's 84 points was the highest number of points they have scored in a World Cup game, surpassing the 82 points they scored against Kazakhstan in 2010.

France vs England

15 October 2022
20:00 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) France 7–13 England
Try: Hermet 64' c
Con: Drouin (1/1) 65'		ReportTry: Scarratt 25' c
Con: Scarratt (1/1) 26'
Pen: Scarratt (2/2) 40', 62'
Northland Events Centre, Whangārei
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Team details
FB 15 Chloé Jacquet  65'
RW 14 Joanna Grisez
OC 13 Maëlle Filopon
IC 12 Gabrielle Vernier  78'
LW 11 Émilie Boulard
FH 10 Caroline Drouin
SH 9 Laure Sansus  13'
N8 8 Romane Ménager  17'
OF 7 Marjorie Mayans  71'
BF 6 Charlotte Escudero
RL 5 Madoussou Fall
LL 4 Céline Ferer (c)
TP 3 Clara Joyeux  72'
HK 2 Agathe Sochat  65'
LP 1 Annaëlle Deshayes  48'
Replacements:
HK 16 Laure Touyé  65'
PR 17 Coco Lindelauf  48'
PR 18 Assia Khalfaoui  72'
LK 19 Safi N'Diaye  71'
FL 20 Gaëlle Hermet  17'
SH 21 Pauline Bourdon  13'
CE 22 Lina Queyroi  78'
WG 23 Marine Ménager  65'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq
FB 15 Ellie Kildunne
RW 14 Lydia Thompson  61'
OC 13 Emily Scarratt
IC 12 Helena Rowland
LW 11 Claudia MacDonald
FH 10 Zoe Harrison
SH 9 Leanne Infante
N8 8 Sarah Hunter (c)  56'
OF 7 Marlie Packer  66'
BF 6 Alex Matthews
RL 5 Abbie Ward
LL 4 Zoe Aldcroft
TP 3 Sarah Bern  66'
HK 2 Amy Cokayne
LP 1 Victoria Cornborough  56'
Replacements:
HK 16 Connie Powell
PR 17 Hannah Botterman  56'
PR 18 Maud Muir  66'
LK 19 Catherine O'Donnell  66'
FL 20 Poppy Cleall  56'
SH 21 Lucy Packer
CE 22 Holly Aitchison
WG 23 Abigail Dow  61'
Coach:
Simon Middleton

Player of the Match:
Alex Matthews (England)

Assistant referees:
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Kat Roche (United States)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

  • Sarah Hunter earned her 137th test cap, equalling Rochelle Clark's record for most caps for England and most caps for a female player.
  • Marjorie Mayans (France) earned her 50th test cap.
  • This was France's first defeat in the pool stage since losing 27–8 to England in 2006.

Fiji vs South Africa

16 October 2022
17:45 NZDT (UTC+13)
Fiji 21–17 South Africa (1 BP)
Try: Delaiwau 13' c
Sokoiwasa 40' c
Naisewa 79' c
Con: Cavuru (3/3) 14', 41', 80+1'		ReportTry: Mpupha 36' c
Hele 59' c
Con: Janse van Rensburg (2/2) 37', 60'
Pen: Janse van Rensburg (1/1) 79'
Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Team details
FB 15 Roela Radiniyavuni  61'
RW 14 Akanisi Sokoiwasa  49'
OC 13 Talei Wilson  64'
IC 12 Sesenieli Donu
LW 11 Ilisapeci Delaiwau  60'
FH 10 Merewalesi Rokouono  60'
SH 9 Lavena Cavuru
N8 8 Karalaini Naisewa
OF 7 Raijieli Daveua
BF 6 Sulita Waisega  47'
RL 5 Merevesi Ofakimalino
LL 4 Asinate Serevi (c)
TP 3 Vuanimasei Rasolea
HK 2 Vika Matarugu  63'
LP 1 Iris Verebalavu  61'
Replacements:
HK 16 Bitila Tawake  62'
PR 17 Bulou Vasuturaga  61'
PR 18 Mereoni Namositava
LK 19 Joma Rubuti
FL 20 Ema Adivitaloga  47'
SH 21 Kolora Lomani  60'
FH 22 Ana Maria Roqica  60'
CE 23 Timaima Ravisa  64'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula
FB 15 Nadine Roos
RW 14 Nomawethu Mabenge  9'
OC 13 Zintle Mpupha
IC 12 Aphiwe Ngwevu  49'
LW 11 Simamkele Namba  40'
FH 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg
SH 9 Tayla Kinsey  31'
N8 8 Aseza Hele
OF 7 Sinazo Mcatshulwa
BF 6 Sizophila Solontsi  48'
RL 5 Rights Mkhari  53'
LL 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c)
TP 3 Babalwa Latsha  72'
HK 2 Lindelwa Gwala  40'
LP 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie  53'
Replacements:
HK 16 Roseline Botes  40'
PR 17 Asithandile Ntoyanto  53'
PR 18 Monica Mazibukwana  72'
LK 19 Lerato Makua  53'
FL 20 Lusanda Dumke  48'
SH 21 Unam Tose  31'
FH 22 Zenay Jordaan  49'
FB 23 Eloise Webb  40'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer

Player of the Match:
Vuanimasei Rasolea (Fiji)

Assistant referees:
Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Doriane Domenjo (France)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)

Notes:

  • This was the first meeting between the two nations.
  • Zenay Jordaan earned her 35th test cap, surpassing Zandile Nojoko as the most capped South African female.

France vs Fiji

22 October 2022
18:15 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) France 44–0 Fiji
Try: M. Ménager 8' m
Llorens 28' c
Filopon (2) 40' m, 57' m
Gros 63' c
Boulard 72' m
Domain 80' c
Con: Trémoulière (3/6) 29', 64', 80+1'
Pen: Trémoulière (1/1) 20'		Report
Northland Events Centre, Whangārei
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
Team details
FB 15 Émilie Boulard
RW 14 Mélissande Llorens
OC 13 Maëlle Filopon  65'
IC 12 Caroline Drouin  58'
LW 11 Marine Ménager
FH 10 Jessy Trémoulière
SH 9 Pauline Bourdon  62'
N8 8 Émeline Gros
OF 7 Julie Annery
BF 6 Gaëlle Hermet (c)
RL 5 Safi N'Diaye  74'
LL 4 Céline Ferer  47'
TP 3 Assia Khalfaoui  58'
HK 2 Laure Touyé  58'
LP 1 Coco Lindelauf  58'
Replacements:
HK 16 Célia Domain  58'
PR 17 Yllana Brosseau  58'
PR 18 Rose Bernadou  58'
LK 19 Manaé Feleu  47'
FL 20 Charlotte Escudero  74'
SH 21 Alexandra Chambon  62'
CE 22 Lina Queyroi  65'
FB 23 Chloé Jacquet  58'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq
FB 15 Roela Radiniyavuni  23'  79'
RW 14 Raijieli Laqeretabua  48'
OC 13 Melaia Matanatabu  45'
IC 12 Sesenieli Donu  60'
LW 11 Vitalina Naikore
FH 10 Kolora Lomani
SH 9 Ana Maria Roqica  29'
N8 8 Sereima Leweniqila
OF 7 Karalaini Naisewa
BF 6 Raijieli Daveua  45'
RL 5 Merevesi Ofakimalino  56'
LL 4 Asinate Serevi (c)
TP 3 Siteri Rasolea
HK 2 Vika Matarugu  58'
LP 1 Iris Verebalavu  58'
Replacements:
HK 16 Bitila Tawake  58'
PR 17 Mereoni Vonosere  58'
PR 18 Bulou Vasuturaga  60'
LK 19 Sulita Waisega  56'
FL 20 Ema Adivitaloga  45'
SH 21 Lavena Cavuru  29'
FH 22 Rusila Nagasau  48'
CE 23 Talei Wilson  45'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula

Player of the Match:
Pauline Bourdon (France)

Assistant referees:
Julianne Zussman (Canada)
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official:
Chris Assmus (Canada)

Notes:

  • This was the first meeting between the two nations.

England vs South Africa

23 October 2022
17:45 NZDT (UTC+13)
(1 BP) England 75–0 South Africa
Try: Galligan (3) 6' m, 29' m, 53' m
P. Cleall (2) 23' c, 59' m
Brown 32' c
Powell (3) 36' m, 41' c, 69' m
M. Packer 51' c
Kabeya (2) 62' m, 78' c
Dow 64' m
Con: Harrison (4/8) 24', 33', 42', 51'
Rowland (1/1) 78'		Report
Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Team details
FB 15 Sarah McKenna  70'
RW 14 Abigail Dow
OC 13 Holly Aitchison
IC 12 Tatyana Heard
LW 11 Jessica Breach
FH 10 Zoe Harrison  54'
SH 9 Lucy Packer  68'
N8 8 Poppy Cleall
OF 7 Marlie Packer (c)  68'
BF 6 Morwenna Talling
RL 5 Catherine O'Donnell  50'
LL 4 Rosie Galligan
TP 3 Shaunagh Brown  70'
HK 2 Connie Powell  70'
LP 1 Hannah Botterman  50'
Replacements:
HK 16 Amy Cokayne  70'
PR 17 Maud Muir  50'
PR 18 Sarah Bern  80'  70'
LK 19 Zoe Aldcroft  68'
FL 20 Sadia Kabeya  50'
SH 21 Leanne Infante  68'
FH 22 Helena Rowland  70'
FB 23 Ellie Kildunne  54'
Coach:
Simon Middleton
FB 15 Eloise Webb
RW 14 Nomawethu Mabenge  57'
OC 13 Simamkele Namba
IC 12 Chumisa Qawe
LW 11 Nadine Roos
FH 10 Zenay Jordaan  63'
SH 9 Tayla Kinsey  46'
N8 8 Aseza Hele
OF 7 Lerato Makua
BF 6 Lusanda Dumke
RL 5 Catha Jacobs  14'
LL 4 Nolusindiso Booi (c)  32'  63'
TP 3 Babalwa Latsha  72'
HK 2 Lindelwa Gwala  63'
LP 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie  55'
Replacements:
HK 16 Micke Gunter  63'
PR 17 Yonela Ngxingolo  55'
PR 18 Azisa Mkiva  72'
LK 19 Nompumelelo Mathe  63'
FL 20 Sizophila Solontsi  46'
SH 21 Rumandi Potgieter
FH 22 Jakke Cilliers  57'
FB 23 Chuma Qawe  63'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer

Player of the Match:
Tatyana Heard (England)

Assistant referees:
Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Tyler Miller (Australia)
Television match official:
Lee Jeffrey (New Zealand)

Notes:

Notes

  1. ^ The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches
  2. ^ The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches

References

  1. ^ "NZ beat England to win World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  2. ^ world.rugby. "RWC 2021 Spotlight: South Africa ｜ Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  3. ^ women.rugby. "Fiji qualify for Rugby World Cup 2021 | Women in Rugby | women.rugby". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  4. ^ worldrugby.org. "Match Officials Appointments | World Rugby". www.worldrugby.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022.