Pool D of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 7 September and concluded on 30 September. The pool was composed of World Cup hosts France, Argentina, Georgia, Ireland and Namibia.
Standings Pool D was expected to be the Pool of Death in the 2007 tournament and so it proved: the final rankings were only determined after the last round of matches. The pool was won by Argentina, who won all their matches, while France, who lost to Argentina in the opening game of the tournament, finished in second place. Ireland, whom many commentators had expected to do well, were eliminated after winning only two matches, against Georgia and Namibia: Georgia came close to scoring a winning try late in their game, while Namibia recorded their best World Cup result against a team ranked in the top 10.
Matches All times local (UTC+2)
France vs Argentina
FB 15Cédric HeymansRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Yannick JauzionIC 12Damien Traille LW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10David Skrela SH 9 Pierre Mignoni N8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Rémy Martin BF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien Pelous TP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Olivier MilloudReplacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste PouxLK 18Sébastien Chabal N8 19Julien Bonnaire FL 20Thierry DusautoirSH 21Jean-Baptiste Élissalde FH 22Frédéric Michalak Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Ignacio CorletoRW 14Lucas BorgesOC 13Manuel Contepomi IC 12Felipe ContepomiLW 11Horacio AgullaFH 10Juan Martín HernándezSH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)N8 8 Juan Manuel LeguizamónOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Lucas Ostiglia RL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Mario LedesmaLP 1 Rodrigo RonceroReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet BasualdoPR 17Santiago González Bonorino LK 18Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19Martín Durand SH 20Nicolás Fernández MirandaFH 21Federico TodeschiniCE 22Hernán Senillosa Coach:Marcelo Loffreda
Man of the Match: Felipe Contepomi (Argentina)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Notes This was the third consecutive World Cup in which Argentina played the tournament host in the competition's opening match. In 1999, the Pumas lost 23–18 to Wales and in 2003 lost 24–8 to Australia. The three points from Skrela's second half penalty is the lowest points total in a half in World Cup history. This was the second consecutive world cup match (following the 2003 final), in which the winner was scoreless in the second half. This was the fifth win for Argentina in their last six Tests against France, whose sole win in November 2006 was by one point. Argentina became the second side to beat the hosts in the opening match, after New Zealand beat England in 1991 at Twickenham. It was France's first defeat in the first round of the World Cup (although they had a 20–20 draw against Scotland in 1987). Only New Zealand continued to have a 100% record in the first round after 2007, until the loss versus France in the opening match of 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Ireland vs Namibia
FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Andrew TrimbleOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c) IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David Wallace BF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Marcus Horan Replacements:HK 16Jerry Flannery PR 17Simon Best LK 18Malcolm O'KellyFL 19Neil Best SH 20Isaac BossFH 21Paddy Wallace FB 22Geordan Murphy Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Tertius LosperRW 14Ryan Witbooi OC 13Bradley LangenhovenIC 12Piet van ZylLW 11Heini BockFH 10Emile WesselsSH 9 Eugene Jantjies N8 8 Jacques Burger OF 7 Heino Senekal BF 6 Jacques NieuwenhuisRL 5 Nico EsterhuyseLL 4 Wacca KazombiazeTP 3 Jané du ToitHK 2 Hugo Horn LP 1 Kees Lensing (c) Replacements:HK 16Johannes Meyer PR 17Johnny Redelinghuys FL 18Michael MacKenzie FL 19Tinus du Plessis SH 20Jurie van Tonder CE 21Lu-Wayne BotesWG 22Melrick Africa Coach:Hakkies Husselman Man of the Match: Ryan Witbooi (Namibia)
Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Paul Marks (Australia) Fourth official: Romain Poite (France) Fifth official: Stephane Pomarede (France)
Notes Brian O'Driscoll took sole possession of the all-time Ireland try-scoring lead from teammate Denis Hickie with his 30th try. This was Namibia's best result in a World Cup match, surpassing a thirty-point defeat to Romania in 2003.
Argentina vs Georgia
FB 15Ignacio CorletoRW 14Lucas Borges OC 13Gonzalo Tiesi IC 12Felipe Contepomi (c) LW 11Federico Martín AramburúFH 10Juan Martín HernándezSH 9 Nicolás Fernández MirandaN8 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Martín DurandRL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis TP 3 Santiago González Bonorino HK 2 Mario Ledesma LP 1 Marcos AyerzaReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet Basualdo PR 17Omar Hasan LK 18Esteban Lozada FL 19Martín Schusterman CE 20Hernán Senillosa FH 21Federico Todeschini FB 22Federico Serra MirasCoach:Marcelo Loffreda FB 15Pavle Jimsheladze RW 14Irakli MachkhaneliOC 13Malkhaz Urjukashvili IC 12Irakli GiorgadzeLW 11Besiki KhamashuridzeFH 10Merab KvirikashviliSH 9 Irakli Abuseridze N8 8 Besso Udessiani OF 7 Grigol LabadzeBF 6 Giorgi Chkhaidze RL 5 Mamuka GorgodzeLL 4 Ilia Zedginidze (c)TP 3 David Zirakashvili HK 2 Akvsenti GiorgadzeLP 1 David Khinchagashvili Replacements:PR 16Goderdzi Shvelidze PR 17Avtandil Kopaliani LK 18Victor Didebulidze FL 19Zviad Maisuradze SH 20Bidzina Samkharadze CE 21Revaz Gigauri WG 22Giorgi Shkinin Coach:Malkhaz Cheishvili Man of the Match: Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina)
Touch judges: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Dave Pearson (England) Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Fourth official: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Fifth official: Laurent Valin (France)
Ireland vs Georgia
FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David Wallace BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Jerry Flannery PR 17Simon Best LK 18Malcolm O'KellyFL 19Neil Best SH 20Isaac Boss FH 21Paddy WallaceFB 22Geordan MurphyCoach: Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Otar Barkalaia RW 14Giorgi ShkininOC 13Malkhaz UrjukashviliIC 12Davit KacharavaLW 11Giorgi Elizbarashvili FH 10Merab KvirikashviliSH 9 Bidzina Samkharadze N8 8 Giorgi ChkhaidzeOF 7 Rati UrushadzeBF 6 Ilia Maisuradze RL 5 Mamuka GorgodzeLL 4 Ilia Zedginidze (c) TP 3 Avtandil Kopaliani HK 2 Goderdzi ShvelidzeLP 1 Mamuka Magrakvelidze Replacements:HK 16Akvsenti Giorgadze PR 17David Khinchagashvili LK 18Levan Datunashvili FL 19Zviad Maisuradze SH 20Irakli Abuseridze CE 21Irakli Machkhaneli WG 22Otar Eloshvili Coach:Malkhaz Cheishvili Man of the Match: Giorgi Shkinin (Georgia)
Touch judges: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Paul Marks (Australia) Television match official: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Hervé Dubes (France)
France vs Namibia
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud RW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David MartyIC 12Damien Traille LW 11Cédric HeymansFH 10Frédéric Michalak SH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (c)N8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Thierry DusautoirBF 6 Yannick Nyanga RL 5 Lionel NalletLL 4 Sébastien Chabal TP 3 Pieter de Villiers HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski LP 1 Jean-Baptiste PouxReplacements:HK 16Raphaël Ibañez PR 17Nicolas Mas LK 18Fabien Pelous N8 19Imanol Harinordoquy FH 20Lionel Beauxis CE 21Yannick Jauzion WG 22Aurélien Rougerie Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Tertius LosperRW 14Ryan WitbooiOC 13Bradley LangenhovenIC 12Piet van Zyl LW 11Heini BockFH 10Emile Wessels SH 9 Jurie van Tonder N8 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis OF 7 Jacques Burger BF 6 Michael MacKenzieRL 5 Nico Esterhuyse LL 4 Wacca KazombiazeTP 3 Jané du Toit HK 2 Hugo Horn LP 1 Kees Lensing (c) Replacements:HK 16Johannes Meyer PR 17Johnny Redelinghuys FL 18Herman Lintvelt FL 19Tinus du Plessis SH 20Eugene Jantjies CE 21Lu-Wayne Botes WG 22Melrick Africa Coach:Hakkies Husselman Man of the Match: Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (France)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Carlo Damasco (Italy) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Fourth official: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Fifth official: Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
France vs Ireland
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud RW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David Marty IC 12Damien Traille LW 11Cédric HeymansFH 10Frédéric MichalakSH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde N8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Thierry DusautoirBF 6 Serge Betsen RL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Sébastien Chabal TP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Olivier Milloud Replacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux LK 18Lionel Nallet FL 19Yannick Nyanga FH 20Lionel Beauxis CE 21Yannick Jauzion WG 22Aurélien Rougerie Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan TP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Jerry Flannery LP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Frankie Sheahan PR 17Simon Best LK 18Malcolm O'Kelly FL 19Neil Best SH 20Isaac BossFH 21Paddy WallaceCE 22Gavin DuffyCoach: Eddie O'Sullivan Man of the Match: Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (France)
Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Dave Pearson (England) Television match official: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Argentina vs Namibia
FB 15Ignacio Corleto RW 14Hernán SenillosaOC 13Gonzalo TiesiIC 12Manuel ContepomiLW 11Horacio AgullaFH 10Felipe Contepomi SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c) N8 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Lucas OstigliaRL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Omar HasanHK 2 Alberto Vernet BasualdoLP 1 Rodrigo Roncero Replacements:HK 16Mario LedesmaPR 17Martín Scelzo LK 18Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19Gonzalo Longo SH 20Nicolás Fernández Miranda FH 21Federico Todeschini FB 22Federico Serra Miras Coach:Marcelo Loffreda FB 15Heini BockRW 14Deon Mouton OC 13Du Preez Grobler IC 12Corne Powell (c)LW 11Melrick AfricaFH 10Morne Schreuder SH 9 Eugene JantjiesN8 8 Tinus du PlessisOF 7 Jacques BurgerBF 6 Michael MacKenzie RL 5 Nico EsterhuyseLL 4 Wacca Kazombiaze TP 3 Marius Visser HK 2 Johannes Meyer LP 1 Johnny RedelinghuysReplacements:HK 16Hugo Horn PR 17Kees Lensing FL 18Herman Lintvelt LK 19Heino Senekal SH 20Jurie van Tonder CE 21Bradley Langenhoven CE 22Piet van Zyl Coach:Hakkies Husselman Man of the Match: Rodrigo Roncero (Argentina)
Touch judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Fourth official: Joël Jutge (France) Fifth official: Franck Maciello (France)
Georgia vs Namibia
FB 15Malkhaz Urjukashvili RW 14Irakli MachkhaneliOC 13Davit KacharavaIC 12Irakli GiorgadzeLW 11Giorgi Shkinin FH 10Merab KvirikashviliSH 9 Irakli Abuseridze (c) N8 8 Giorgi ChkhaidzeOF 7 Rati Urushadze BF 6 Grigol LabadzeRL 5 Mamuka Gorgodze LL 4 Levan DatunashviliTP 3 David ZirakashviliHK 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze LP 1 Goderdzi ShvelidzeReplacements:PR 16David Khinchagashvili PR 17Avtandil Kopaliani LK 18Victor Didebulidze N8 19Besso Udessiani SH 20Bidzina Samkharadze CE 21Revaz Gigauri WG 22Besiki Khamashuridze Coach:Malkhaz Cheishvili FB 15Heini Bock RW 14Ryan WitbooiOC 13Piet van ZylIC 12Corne PowellLW 11Bradley LangenhovenFH 10Morne Schreuder SH 9 Jurie van Tonder N8 8 Tinus du Plessis OF 7 Jacques BurgerBF 6 Jacques NieuwenhuisRL 5 Heino Senekal LL 4 Wacca KazombiazeTP 3 Marius Visser HK 2 Hugo Horn LP 1 Kees Lensing (c)Replacements:HK 16Johannes Meyer PR 17Johnny Redelinghuys PR 18Jané du Toit LK 19Nico Esterhuyse SH 20Eugene Jantjies WG 21Melrick Africa LK 22Domingo Kamonga Coach:Hakkies Husselman Man of the Match: