2007 Rugby World Cup Pool A

Standings

Pool A threw up few surprises, with both South Africa and England qualifying for the quarter-finals, as expected. Third place went to Tonga, who beat the USA and South Pacific neighbours, Samoa, to secure a place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Tonga also gave the eventual champions a close run, losing by less than a try. Both South Africa and England went on to reach the final of the tournament, which South Africa won by 15 points to 6.

Matches

All times local (UTC+2)

England vs United States

Barkley 40+' c Rees 49' c

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South Africa vs Samoa

Montgomery (2) 40+' c, 53' m Fourie 47' c JP Pietersen 80+' c

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United States vs Tonga

Stanfill 67' c Hercus (1/2) 33' Vaka 59' m Vaki 70' c

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England vs South Africa

Pietersen (2) 38' c, 64' c Montgomery (4/4) 36', 46', 55', 79'

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Notes

• Percy Montgomery equalled Joost van der Westhuizen as the most-capped Springbok with his 89th appearance.
• This was the first scoreless match for England at the World Cup; it was also the first time a past World Champion had failed to score in a World Cup match. It was only the fifth time a side had failed to score in a World Cup match, after Canada, Spain, Namibia and Romania, although Scotland joined this list later in the tournament.
• This was the first meeting in the pool stage of a Rugby World Cup between two former champions.

Samoa vs Tonga

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South Africa vs Tonga

Smith 59' c Skinstad 62' m Montgomery (1/3) Montgomery (1/1) 76' Hufanga 70' m Vaki 72' c

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Notes

• Percy Montgomery earns his 90th cap, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen as the most-capped Springbok.

England vs Samoa

Sackey (2) 32' c, 80+' m

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Samoa vs United States

Tuilagi 9' c Thompson 37' c Stanfill 79' m

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England vs Tonga

Tait 57' c Farrell 66' c T-Pole 80' c

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South Africa vs United States

Steyn 28' c Habana (2) 35' c, 42' m van der Linde 48' c du Preez 54' c Fourie (2) 64' c, 73' c Smith 77' c James (2/2) Wyles 51' m

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Notes

• Takudzwa Ngwenya's try, which he scored from his own half after faking out Bryan Habana and running past him, was named the Try of the Year in international rugby by the International Rugby Players' Association, an award handed out at the 2007 IRB Awards.
• Thretton Palamo became the youngest player ever to appear in the Rugby World Cup, at age 19 years, 8 days. The previous record was held by Federico Méndez of Argentina, who appeared in the 1991 Rugby World Cup at 19 years, 54 days.

References

References

1. "England 28-10 USA".
2. "England 28-10 USA".
3. "England 28 United States 10: Barkley the bright spot for woeful champions".
4. "Rugby: England fail to soar against US".
5. "Match report: Tonga too strong for USA".
6. "Second Loss for U.S.".
7. "World Cup final 2007".
8. "Tonga drag Eagles back to earth".
9. "Samoa edge out USA".
10. "Samoa Defeats U.S. Team".
11. "Samoa sign off with USA win".
12. "Samoa 25-21 USA".
13. "South Africa 64-15 USA".
14. Rugby News Service. (2007-10-21). "Habana named IRB Player of the Year". [[International Rugby Board]].
15. Fitzpatrick, Joel. (2007-09-05). "Thretton takes milestone in his stride". Rugby World Cup.