Pool A of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 18 September 2015 and was completed on 10 October 2015. The pool was composed of hosts England, as well as the third- and fourth-placed teams from 2011, Australia and Wales. They were joined by the Oceania qualifier, Fiji, and the repechage qualifier, Uruguay. The group was called the group of death, with four of the five teams in the top 10 of the World Rugby Rankings going into the tournament. Australia and Wales qualified for the quarter-finals.
Standings
Matches All times are local United Kingdom time (UTC+01)
England vs Fiji
FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Brad Barritt LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Ben Morgan OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom WoodRL 5 Courtney LawesLL 4 Geoff Parling TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Tom Youngs LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Rob Webber PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kieran Brookes LK 19Joe Launchbury N8 20Billy Vunipola SH 21Richard Wigglesworth FH 22Owen Farrell CE 23Sam Burgess Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Metuisela TalebulaRW 14Waisea NayacalevuOC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Gabiriele LovobalavuLW 11Nemani NadoloFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nikola Matawalu N8 8 Sakiusa MatadigoOF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)BF 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Api Ratuniyarawa TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Tuapati Talemaitoga PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Isei Colati LK 19Tevita Cavubati FL 20Peceli Yato SH 21Nemia KenataleFH 22Josh MatavesiWG 23Asaeli TikoirotumaCoach: John McKee Man of the Match: Mike Brown (England)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Ben Youngs earned his 50th test cap for England.
Wales vs Uruguay
FB 15Liam Williams RW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Cory Allen IC 12Scott WilliamsLW 11Hallam AmosFH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Gareth DaviesN8 8 James King OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Sam Warburton (c) RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Jake BallTP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Scott Baldwin LP 1 Paul James Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Aaron Jarvis PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Dominic Day FL 20Dan Lydiate FL 21Ross Moriarty SH 22Lloyd Williams FB 23Matthew Morgan Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Gastón MieresRW 14Santiago GibernauOC 13Joaquín PradaIC 12Andrés Vilaseca LW 11Rodrigo SilvaFH 10Felipe BerchesiSH 9 Agustín Ormaechea N8 8 Alejandro NietoOF 7 Matías Beer BF 6 Juan Manuel GaminaraRL 5 Jorge Zerbino LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c) TP 3 Mario Sagario HK 2 Carlos Arboleya LP 1 Alejo Corral Replacements:HK 16Germán Kessler PR 17Oscar Durán PR 18Mateo Sanguinetti LK 19Franco Lamanna FL 20Agustín Alonso FL 21Juan de Freitas SH 22Alejo Durán WG 23Francisco Bulanti Coach: Pablo Lemoine Man of the Match: Cory Allen (Wales)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes This was the first ever match between these nations.
Australia vs Fiji
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita Kuridrani IC 12Matt Giteau LW 11Rob HorneFH 10Bernard Foley SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 David PocockOF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 Rob Simmons LL 4 Kane Douglas TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Will Skelton LK 20Dean Mumm SH 21Nick Phipps CE 22Matt To'omua CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Metuisela TalebulaRW 14Waisea Nayacalevu OC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Gabiriele LovobalavuLW 11Nemani NadoloFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nikola Matawalu N8 8 Netani Talei OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)BF 6 Peceli Yato RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Talemaitoga TuapatiLP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Viliame VeikosoPR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Isei Colati LK 19Nemia Soqeta FL 20Malakai Ravulo SH 21Nemia Kenatale FH 22Josh MatavesiWG 23Asaeli Tikoirotuma Coach: John McKee Man of the Match: David Pocock (Australia)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
England vs Wales
FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Brad BarrittIC 12Sam Burgess LW 11Jonny MayFH 10Owen FarrellSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom WoodRL 5 Courtney Lawes LL 4 Geoff ParlingTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Tom Youngs LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Rob Webber PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kieran Brookes LK 19Joe Launchbury FL 20James Haskell SH 21Richard Wigglesworth FH 22George Ford FB 23Alex GoodeCoach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Liam Williams RW 14George NorthOC 13Scott Williams IC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Hallam Amos FH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Gareth DaviesN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Scott Baldwin LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Aaron JarvisPR 18Samson Lee LK 19Luke Charteris FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Lloyd Williams FH 22Rhys Priestland WG 23Alex Cuthbert Coach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Dan Biggar (Wales)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: This was the first time the host nation had lost a match in the pool stage since France lost to Argentina 17–12 in 2007.
Australia vs Uruguay
FB 15Kurtley BealeRW 14Joe TomaneOC 13Henry SpeightIC 12Matt To'omua LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Quade Cooper SH 9 Nick PhippsN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 Sean McMahonBF 6 Ben McCalmanRL 5 Will Skelton LL 4 Dean Mumm (c)TP 3 Toby SmithHK 2 Tatafu Polota-NauLP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Stephen MoorePR 17Sekope Kepu PR 18Greg HolmesLK 19Kane Douglas LK 20Rob Simmons SH 21Will GeniaFH 22Bernard FoleyCE 23Tevita Kuridrani Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Gastón MieresRW 14Leandro LeivasOC 13Joaquín PradaIC 12Andrés Vilaseca LW 11Rodrigo SilvaFH 10Felipe Berchesi SH 9 Agustín OrmaecheaN8 8 Juan Manuel Gaminara OF 7 Matías BeerBF 6 Juan de Freitas RL 5 Franco Lamanna LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c)TP 3 Mario Sagario HK 2 Germán Kessler LP 1 Mateo Sanguinetti Replacements:HK 16Nicolás Klappenbach PR 17Oscar Durán PR 18Carlos Arboleya N8 19Alejandro Nieto FL 20Diego Magno FL 21Fernando Bascou SH 22Alejo Durán CE 23Alberto Román Coach: Pablo Lemoine Man of the Match: Sean McMahon (Australia)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: This was the first meeting between the two nations. Diego Magno earned his 50th test cap for Uruguay. Drew Mitchell scored his 12th World Cup try, surpassing Chris Latham's Australian World Cup record of 11 tries.
Wales vs Fiji
FB 15Matthew Morgan RW 14Alex Cuthbert OC 13Tyler MorganIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11George NorthFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth DaviesN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Scott Baldwin LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Aaron Jarvis PR 18Samson Lee LK 19Luke Charteris FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Lloyd Williams FH 22Rhys Priestland CE 23James Hook Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Metuisela TalebulaRW 14Timoci NagusaOC 13Vereniki Goneva IC 12Levani Botia LW 11Asaeli TikoirotumaFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nemia Kenatale N8 8 Netani TaleiOF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)BF 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Viliame Veikoso PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Lee Roy Atalifo LK 19Nemia Soqeta FL 20Malakai Ravulo SH 21Henry Seniloli FH 22Josh Matavesi FB 23Kini Murimurivalu Coach: John McKee Man of the Match: Gareth Davies (Wales)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Taulupe Faletau and Dan Lydiate earned their 50th test cap for Wales. Akapusi Qera earned his 50th test cap for Fiji.
England vs Australia
FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Brad Barritt LW 11Jonny May FH 10Owen Farrell SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Ben Morgan OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom WoodRL 5 Geoff ParlingLL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Tom Youngs LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Rob Webber PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kieran Brookes LK 19George Kruis N8 20Nick Easter SH 21Richard Wigglesworth FH 22George Ford CE 23Sam Burgess Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Israel Folau RW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Rob Horne FH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Will Genia N8 8 David PocockOF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 Rob Simmons LL 4 Kane DouglasTP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Dean Mumm N8 20Ben McCalman SH 21Nick Phipps CE 22Matt To'omua CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika Man of the Match: Joe Launchbury (England)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: With this loss, England became the first host nation since Wales in 1991 not to make it out of the Pools. This was Australia's largest winning margin over England in England, while scoring the most points against them in England.
Fiji vs Uruguay
FB 15Kini MurimurivaluRW 14Asaeli TikoirotumaOC 13Vereniki Goneva IC 12Levani BotiaLW 11Nemani NadoloFH 10Ben Volavola SH 9 Nemia Kenatale N8 8 Sakiusa Matadigo OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)BF 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Api Ratuniyarawa TP 3 Lee Roy Atalifo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Viliame Veikoso PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Taniela Koroi LK 19Tevita Cavubati N8 20Netani Talei SH 21Henry Seniloli FH 22Josh Matavesi WG 23Timoci Nagusa Coach: John McKee FB 15Gastón MieresRW 14Santiago Gibernau OC 13Joaquín PradaIC 12Andrés VilasecaLW 11Rodrigo SilvaFH 10Alejo Durán SH 9 Agustín Ormaechea N8 8 Diego MagnoOF 7 Matías Beer BF 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara RL 5 Jorge Zerbino LL 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c)TP 3 Mario Sagario HK 2 Carlos ArboleyaLP 1 Alejo Corral Replacements:HK 16Germán KesslerPR 17Oscar Durán PR 18Mateo Sanguinetti LK 19Mathias Palomeque LK 20Franco Lamanna FL 21Juan de Freitas WG 22Jerónimo Etcheverry WG 23Francisco Bulanti Coach: Pablo Lemoine Man of the Match: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Mario Sagario earned his 50th test cap for Uruguay.
Australia vs Wales
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt Giteau LW 11Drew Mitchell FH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Will Genia N8 8 David Pocock OF 7 Sean McMahon BF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 Dean Mumm LL 4 Kane DouglasTP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Rob Simmons N8 20Ben McCalman SH 21Nick Phipps CE 22Matt To'omua CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Gareth AnscombeRW 14Alex Cuthbert OC 13George NorthIC 12Jamie Roberts LW 11Liam Williams FH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth DaviesN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Sam Warburton (c)RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Luke CharterisTP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Scott Baldwin LP 1 Paul James Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Aaron Jarvis PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Jake BallFL 20Ross Moriarty SH 21Lloyd Williams FH 22Rhys Priestland CE 23James Hook Coach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Gareth Davies (Wales)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: This was the first match between Australia and Wales in which both sides have failed to score a try since Wales' 6–0 win in 1947.
England vs Uruguay