Pool B of the 2023 Rugby World Cup began on 9 September 2023 and concluded on 8 October 2023. The pool included holders and world-number-two-ranked side South Africa, fellow automatic qualifiers and world-number-one-ranked side Ireland, and world-number-five-ranked side Scotland. They were joined by Romania and Tonga. It was widely referred to as the "group of death." Ireland topped the group and South Africa placed second, thus allowing both teams to progress.

Teams Team Band Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Previous bestperformance World Rugby Rankings 1 January 2020 4 September 2023 B1 1 Africa Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 8 October 2019 8th 2019 Winners (1995, 2007, 2019) 1 2 B2 2 Europe Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 5 October 2019 10th 2019 Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019) 5 1 B3 3 Europe Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 12 October 2019 10th 2019 Fourth place (1991) 9 5 B4 4 Oceania Asia/Pacific 1 23 July 2022 9th 2019 Pool stage (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) 13 15 B5 5 Europe Europe 2 27 June 2022 9th 2015 Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015) 19 19 Notes

Overview Ireland, ranked 1st in the world, began Pool B with a convincing win of 82–8 over Romania. Twelve tries were scored by eight different players, with only one having not been converted. The second match of the pool saw defending champions South Africa begin their defence against Scotland. South Africa won 18–3 courtesy of tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse, along with two successful penalties from Manie Libbok. After a six day break, action in the pool returned as Tonga played their first match against Ireland, where the Irish continued their impressive start with a 59–16 victory, including eight tries. The next day, South Africa continued their strong start with an emphatic victory over Romania, in a 76–0 win with twelve tries, including a hat-trick of tries from Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi. On 23 September, 1st and 2nd in the world rankings Ireland and South Africa went head-to-head, the first time the teams had ever met at a World Cup, and the first time two sides ranked first and second in the world had met in a pool stage match. Ireland emerged victorious with a scoreline of 13–8 in a low-scoring and brutal affair in Saint-Denis, putting the Irish in pole position to top the pool. The next day, Scotland defeated Tonga in a bonus-point victory with a scoreline of 45–17 with seven tries to keep their hopes of progression to the knockout stage alive, while putting Tonga on the brink of elimination.

Going into the penultimate weekend of pool stage fixtures, four teams in the group still held their fate in their own hands. Leaders Ireland faced a bye week, while both Tonga and Scotland faced possible elimination if they lost their match. On 30 September, Scotland hammered Romania with a 84–0 scoreline, a result which officially eliminated Romania from the tournament. Twelve tries were scored by the Scots, including Darcy Graham who provided four of them and Ben Healy converting eleven of them. The result was crucial for Scotland in keeping their hopes of progression from the pool alive, and it left them only trailing South Africa in the standings from the head-to-head tiebreaker. It set up a showdown on the final matchday between Scotland and Ireland for a place in the knockout stage. The next day, South Africa played their final match of the pool as they moved to the brink of qualification to the quarter-finals after securing a 49–18 bonus-point victory over Tonga, a result that officially saw the elimination of the Sea Eagles from the tournament. Seven tries were scored by the Springboks, along with strong kicking from Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok. Ahead of the final matchweek, Ireland vs Scotland would be the deciding match as to who would finish in the top two and progress to the knockout stage.

In the final pair of matches in Pool B, Ireland and Scotland went head-to-head in Saint-Denis in a match that would officially decide the final standings of the two along with South Africa in the pool and who would progress to the knockout stage with all three sides still able to do so. A clinical Ireland ended up coming away with a 36–14 bonus-point victory over the Scots with six tries, including a try from James Lowe inside 70 seconds, to ensure that Ireland qualified as they topped Group B, South Africa qualified in second and Scotland suffered elimination from the tournament as they finished third, but qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The final match of Pool B took place the following day between Tonga and Romania in Villeneuve-d'Ascq with both sides already confirmed to finish outside of the top three. Tonga came out with a 45–24 bonus-point victory over the Romanians with two tries from Solomone Kata helping push the Tongans to the win and end their World Cup campaign with a victory as they finished fourth in the pool while ending a miserable campaign for Romania who finished fifth with no victories.

Standings

Matches Ireland vs Romania

FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Keith Earls OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Bundee AkiLW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan Doris OF 7 Peter O'MahonyBF 6 Tadhg BeirneRL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Joe McCarthyTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rob Herring LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Rónan Kelleher PR 17Jeremy Loughman PR 18Tom O'Toole LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Josh van der Flier SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Jack Crowley WG 23Mack Hansen Coach: Andy Farrell FB 15Marius Simionescu RW 14Nicolas OnuțuOC 13Jason TomaneIC 12Fonovai TangimanaLW 11Tevita Manumua FH 10Hinckley Vaovasa SH 9 Gabriel Rupanu N8 8 Cristi Chirică (c)OF 7 Vlad NeculauBF 6 Florian Roșu RL 5 Ștefan Iancu LL 4 Adrian MoțocTP 3 Alexandru Gordaș HK 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru LP 1 Iulian Harțig Replacements:HK 16Florin Bărdașu PR 17Alexandru Savin PR 18Gheorghe Gajion LK 19Marius Iftimiciuc FL 20Dragoș Ser SH 21Alin Conache FH 22Tudor Boldor CE 23Taylor Gontineac Coach: Eugen Apjok Player of the Match: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Notes: Robbie Henshaw was originally named among the replacements for Ireland, but withdrew before the match as an injury precaution. His place was taken by Mack Hansen. This was Ireland's largest ever victory in a Rugby World Cup match, for both total points scored and overall winning margin, and also their largest ever victory over Romania, surpassing the 34–point margin (44–10) set during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

South Africa vs Scotland

FB 15Damian WillemseRW 14Kurt-Lee ArendseOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Cheslin KolbeFH 10Manie Libbok SH 9 Faf de Klerk N8 8 Jasper Wiese BF 7 Pieter-Steph du ToitOF 6 Siya Kolisi (c) RL 5 Franco MostertLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Steven Kitshoff Replacements:HK 16Bongi Mbonambi PR 17Ox Nché PR 18Trevor Nyakane LK 19RG Snyman FL 20Marco van Staden N8 21Duane Vermeulen SH 22Grant Williams FB 23Willie le Roux Coach: Jacques Nienaber FB 15Blair KinghornRW 14Darcy Graham OC 13Huw Jones IC 12Sione Tuipilotu LW 11Duhan van der MerweFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Ben White N8 8 Jack DempseyOF 7 Rory Darge BF 6 Jamie Ritchie (c)RL 5 Grant Gilchrist LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 George Turner LP 1 Pierre Schoeman Replacements:HK 16Dave Cherry PR 17Jamie Bhatti PR 18WP Nel LK 19Scott Cummings FL 20Matt Fagerson SH 21Ali Price CE 22Cameron Redpath FB 23Ollie Smith Coach: Gregor Townsend Player of the Match: Manie Libbok (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Notes: Faf de Klerk (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap.

Ireland vs Tonga

FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Mack HansenOC 13Garry Ringrose IC 12Bundee AkiLW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Caelan Doris OF 7 Josh van der FlierBF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Tadhg BeirneTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Rob Herring PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Ryan Baird SH 21Craig Casey FH 22Ross Byrne CE 23Robbie Henshaw Coach: Andy Farrell FB 15Salesi PiutauRW 14Afusipa TaumoepeauOC 13Malakai FekitoaIC 12Pita AhkiLW 11Solomone Kata FH 10William HaviliSH 9 Augustine Pulu N8 8 Vaea Fifita OF 7 Sione Havili TalituiBF 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua RL 5 Leva Fifita LL 4 Sam LousiTP 3 Ben Tameifuna (c) HK 2 Paul Ngauamo LP 1 Siegfried Fisiʻihoi Replacements:HK 16Sam Moli PR 17Tau Koloamatangi PR 18Joe Apikotoa LK 19Semisi Paea FL 20Solomone Funaki N8 21Sione Vailanu SH 22Sonatane Takulua CE 23Fine Inisi Coach: Toutai Kefu Player of the Match: Bundee Aki (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: This was the first match between Ireland and Tonga at a Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987, when the two nations met in the pool stages. Johnny Sexton became Ireland's all-time top points scorer, breaking the previous record of 1,083 points which was held by Ronan O'Gara.

South Africa vs Romania

FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Grant WilliamsOC 13Canan MoodieIC 12André EsterhuizenLW 11Makazole MapimpiFH 10Damian Willemse SH 9 Cobus Reinach N8 8 Duane VermeulenBF 7 Kwagga SmithOF 6 Marco van StadenRL 5 Marvin Orie LL 4 Jean KleynTP 18Trevor Nyakane HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi (c) LP 1 Ox Nché Replacements:HK 16Deon Fourie PR 17Steven Kitshoff PR 28Frans Malherbe LK 19RG Snyman N8 20Jasper WieseSH 21Jaden Hendrikse SH 22Faf de Klerk CE 23Jesse KrielCoach: Jacques Nienaber FB 15Marius SimionescuRW 14Tevita ManumuaOC 13Jason Tomane IC 12Taylor Gontineac LW 11Nicolas OnuțuFH 10Hinckley VaovasaSH 9 Gabriel RupanuN8 8 Cristi Chirică (c)OF 7 Vlad Neculau BF 6 André Gorin RL 5 Marius Iftimiciuc LL 4 Adrian MoțocTP 3 Alexandru Gordaș HK 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru LP 1 Iulian Harțig Replacements:HK 16Robert Irimescu PR 17Alexandru Savin PR 18Thomas Crețu LK 19Ștefan Iancu FL 20Damian Strătilă FL 21Cristi Boboc SH 22Alin Conache FH 23Gabriel Pop Coach: Eugen Apjok Player of the Match: Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia) Pierre Brousset (France) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: South Africa secured the fastest ever try bonus point (earned by scoring four tries) in a World Cup match, achieving this feat 11 minutes and 13 seconds after kick-off. Vincent Koch was originally named in the starting line-up for South Africa, but withdrew during the match-day warm-up due to injury. He was replaced by Trevor Nyakane, whose place on the bench was taken by Frans Malherbe. Nyakane continued to wear the number 18 shirt, while Malherbe wore 28.

South Africa vs Ireland

FB 15Damian WillemseRW 14Kurt-Lee ArendseOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Cheslin KolbeFH 10Manie LibbokSH 9 Faf de Klerk N8 8 Jasper Wiese BF 7 Pieter-Steph du ToitOF 6 Siya Kolisi (c) RL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi LP 1 Steven Kitshoff Replacements:HK 16Deon Fourie PR 17Ox Nché PR 18Trevor Nyakane LK 19Jean Kleyn LK 20RG Snyman FL 21Marco van Staden FL 22Kwagga Smith SH 23Cobus Reinach Coach: Jacques Nienaber FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Mack HansenOC 13Garry Ringrose IC 12Bundee Aki LW 11James Lowe FH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan DorisOF 7 Josh van der FlierBF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Tadhg BeirneTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Dan Sheehan PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Ryan Baird SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Jack Crowley CE 23Robbie Henshaw Coach: Andy Farrell Player of the Match: Bundee Aki (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: