2003 Rugby World Cup Pool A

Pool A was one of four pools at the 2003 Rugby World Cup into which the 20 participating teams were divided. The pool included hosts Australia and Argentina, who both qualified automatically having reached the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament, along with Ireland, Romania and Namibia. ^[1]

Teams

Team	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Apps.	Last	Previous best performance	IRB World Ranking (6 October 2003)
Australia	Hosts		5th	1999	Winners (1991, 1999)	4
Argentina	Quarter-finalists in 1999	16 October 1999	5th	1999	Quarter-finals (1999)	7
Ireland	Europe 1	28 September 2002 [2]	5th	1999	Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995)	3
Romania	Europe 3	5 October 2002 [3]	5th	1999	Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999)	15
Namibia	Africa	13 October 2002 [4]	2nd	1999	Pool stage (1999)	25

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia (H)	4	4	0	0	273	32	+241	2	18	Advance to quarter-finals, and qualification to the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2	Ireland	4	3	0	1	141	56	+85	3	15
3	Argentina	4	2	0	2	140	57	+83	3	11	Qualification to the 2007 Rugby World Cup
4	Romania	4	1	0	3	65	192	−127	1	5
5	Namibia	4	0	0	4	28	310	−282	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
(H) Host

In the quarter-finals:

• The winners of Pool A advanced to play the runners-up of Pool B.
• The runners-up of Pool A advanced to play the winners of Pool B.

Matches

Australia vs Argentina

10 October 2003

Australia	24–8	Argentina
Try: Sailor Roff Con: Flatley Pen: Flatley (4)	Report	Try: Corleto Pen: M. Contepomi

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 81,350 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

FB 15 Mat Rogers RW 14 Wendell Sailor OC 13 Matt Burke IC 12 Elton Flatley LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 Phil Waugh BF 6 George Smith RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 David Giffin TP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 Brendan Cannon LP 1 Bill Young Replacements: HK 16 Jeremy Paul PR 17 Ben Darwin LK 18 Dan Vickerman FL 19 Matt Cockbain SH 20 Chris Whitaker FH 21 Matt Giteau WG 22 Lote Tuqiri Coach: Eddie Jones

FB 15 Ignacio Corleto RW 14 José María Núñez Piossek OC 13 Manuel Contepomi IC 12 José Orengo LW 11 Diego Albanese FH 10 Felipe Contepomi SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c) N8 8 Gonzalo Longo OF 7 Rolando Martín BF 6 Santiago Phelan RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Omar Hasan HK 2 Mario Ledesma LP 1 Roberto Diego Grau Replacements: HK 16 Federico Méndez PR 17 Mauricio Reggiardo LK 18 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19 Martín Durand SH 20 Nicolás Fernández Miranda FH 21 Gonzalo Quesada CE 22 Juan Martín Hernández Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

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Ireland vs Romania

11 October 2003

Ireland	45–17	Romania
Try: S. Horgan Wood Hickie (2) Costello Con: Humphreys (3) O'Gara Pen: Humphreys (4)	Report	Try: Penalty try Maftei Con: Tofan Vioreanu Pen: Tofan

Central Coast Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 19,123 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

FB 15 Girvan Dempsey RW 14 Shane Horgan OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Kevin Maggs LW 11 Denis Hickie FH 10 David Humphreys SH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Anthony Foley OF 7 Keith Gleeson BF 6 Victor Costello RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly LL 4 Paul O'Connell TP 3 Reggie Corrigan HK 2 Keith Wood (c) LP 1 Marcus Horan Replacements: HK 16 Shane Byrne PR 17 John Hayes LK 18 Donncha O'Callaghan FL 19 Alan Quinlan SH 20 Guy Easterby FH 21 Ronan O'Gara WG 22 John Kelly Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan

FB 15 Dănuț Dumbravă RW 14 Cristian Săuan OC 13 Valentin Maftei IC 12 Romeo Gontineac LW 11 Gabriel Brezoianu FH 10 Ionuț Tofan SH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 Cristian Petre OF 7 Ovidiu Tonița BF 6 George Chiriac RL 5 Augustin Petrechei LL 4 Sorin Socol TP 3 Marcel Socaciu HK 2 Răzvan Mavrodin LP 1 Petru Bălan Replacements: HK 16 Petrișor Toderașc PR 17 Cezar Popescu FL 18 Alexandru Tudori N8 19 Marius Niculai SH 20 Iulian Andrei CE 21 Mihai Vioreanu WG 22 Ion Teodorescu Coach: Bernard Charreyre

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Argentina vs Namibia

14 October 2003

Argentina	67–14	Namibia
Try: Méndez Bouza (2) J. Fernández Miranda Penalty try (2) Gaitán (3) N. Fernández Miranda Con: Quesada (7) Pen: Quesada	Report	Try: Grobler Husselman Con: Wessels (2)

Central Coast Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 17,887 Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)

FB 15 Juan Martín Hernández RW 14 Hernán Senillosa OC 13 Martín Gaitán IC 12 Juan Fernández Miranda LW 11 Diego Albanese FH 10 Gonzalo Quesada SH 9 Nicolás Fernández Miranda (c) N8 8 Pablo Bouza OF 7 Lucas Ostiglia BF 6 Martín Durand RL 5 Pedro Sporleder LL 4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Federico Méndez LP 1 Mauricio Reggiardo Replacements: HK 16 Mario Ledesma PR 17 Rodrigo Roncero LK 18 Patricio Albacete LK 19 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe SH 20 Agustín Pichot FH 21 Felipe Contepomi WG 22 Ignacio Corleto Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

FB 15 Jurie Booysen RW 14 Deon Mouton OC 13 Du Preez Grobler IC 12 Corne Powell LW 11 Melrick Africa FH 10 Emile Wessels SH 9 Hakkies Husselman N8 8 Sean Furter (c) OF 7 Herman Lintvelt BF 6 Schalk van der Merwe RL 5 Eben Isaacs LL 4 Heino Senekal TP 3 Niel du Toit HK 2 Johannes Meyer LP 1 Kees Lensing Replacements: HK 16 Cor van Tonder PR 17 Andries Blaauw FL 18 Wolfie Duvenhage N8 19 Jurgens van Lill SH 20 Ronaldo Pedro WG 21 Niel Swanepoel FB 22 Vincent Dreyer Coach: David Waterston

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Australia vs Romania

18 October 2003

Australia	90–8	Romania
Try: Flatley Rogers (3) Burke (2) Larkham (2) Mortlock Roff Giteau Tuqiri Smith Con: Flatley (11) Pen: Flatley	Report	Try: Toderașc Pen: Tofan

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 48,778 Referee: Pablo De Luca (Argentina)

FB 15 Mat Rogers RW 14 Wendell Sailor OC 13 Matt Burke IC 12 Elton Flatley LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 Phil Waugh BF 6 George Smith RL 5 Dan Vickerman LL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Bill Young HK 2 Brendan Cannon LP 1 Al Baxter Replacements: HK 16 Jeremy Paul PR 17 Ben Darwin LK 18 Justin Harrison FL 19 Matt Cockbain FH 20 Matt Giteau CE 21 Stirling Mortlock WG 22 Lote Tuqiri Coach: Eddie Jones

FB 15 Dănuț Dumbravă RW 14 Gabriel Brezoianu OC 13 Valentin Maftei IC 12 Romeo Gontineac (c) LW 11 Cristian Săuan FH 10 Ionuț Tofan SH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 George Chiriac OF 7 Ovidiu Tonița BF 6 Marius Niculai RL 5 Cristian Petre LL 4 Sorin Socol TP 3 Silviu Florea HK 2 Răzvan Mavrodin LP 1 Petrișor Toderașc Replacements: HK 16 Cezar Popescu PR 17 Marcel Socaciu FL 18 Alexandru Tudori LK 19 Bogdan Tudor SH 20 Cristian Podea FH 21 Mihai Vioreanu WG 22 Ion Teodorescu Coach: Bernard Charreyre

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Ireland vs Namibia

19 October 2003

Ireland	64–7	Namibia
Try: Quinlan (2) Dempsey Hickie Horan Miller (2) G. Easterby S. Horgan Kelly Con: O'Gara (7)	Report	Try: Powell Con: Wessels

Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 35,382 Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

FB 15 Girvan Dempsey RW 14 Shane Horgan OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Kevin Maggs LW 11 Denis Hickie FH 10 Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Simon Easterby OF 7 Alan Quinlan BF 6 Eric Miller RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly LL 4 Paul O'Connell TP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Keith Wood (c) LP 1 Marcus Horan Replacements: HK 16 Shane Byrne PR 17 Simon Best LK 18 Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19 Victor Costello SH 20 Guy Easterby FH 21 David Humphreys WG 22 John Kelly Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan

FB 15 Ronaldo Pedro RW 14 Deon Mouton OC 13 Du Preez Grobler IC 12 Corne Powell LW 11 Vincent Dreyer FH 10 Emile Wessels SH 9 Hakkies Husselman N8 8 Sean Furter (c) OF 7 Wolfie Duvenhage BF 6 Schalk van der Merwe RL 5 Archie Graham LL 4 Heino Senekal TP 3 Niel du Toit HK 2 Johannes Meyer LP 1 Kees Lensing Replacements: HK 16 Cor van Tonder PR 17 Andries Blaauw FL 18 Herman Lintvelt N8 19 Jurgens van Lill WG 20 Niel Swanepoel WG 21 Melrick Africa FH 22 Morné Schreuder Coach: David Waterston

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Argentina vs Romania

22 October 2003

Argentina	50–3	Romania
Try: Gaitán Hernández (2) M. Contepomi N. Fernández Miranda Bouza (2) Con: J. Fernández Miranda (4) Quesada (2) Pen: J. Fernández Miranda	Report	Pen: Tofan

Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 33,673 Referee: Chris White (England)

FB 15 Juan Martín Hernández RW 14 José María Núñez Piossek OC 13 Martín Gaitán IC 12 Manuel Contepomi LW 11 Hernán Senillosa FH 10 Juan Fernández Miranda SH 9 Nicolás Fernández Miranda N8 8 Pablo Bouza OF 7 Martín Durand BF 6 Santiago Phelan (c) RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Pedro Sporleder TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Mario Ledesma LP 1 Rodrigo Roncero Replacements: HK 16 Federico Méndez PR 17 Omar Hasan LK 18 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19 Rolando Martín SH 20 Agustín Pichot FH 21 Gonzalo Quesada CE 22 José Orengo Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

FB 15 Gabriel Brezoianu RW 14 Mihai Vioreanu OC 13 Valentin Maftei IC 12 Romeo Gontineac (c) LW 11 Ion Teodorescu FH 10 Ionuț Tofan SH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 George Chiriac OF 7 Ovidiu Tonița BF 6 Alexandru Tudori RL 5 Cristian Petre LL 4 Sorin Socol TP 3 Silviu Florea HK 2 Răzvan Mavrodin LP 1 Petrișor Toderașc Replacements: PR 16 Paulică Ion PR 17 Cezar Popescu WG 18 Vasile Ghioc LK 19 Augustin Petrechei FL 20 Cornel Tatu SH 21 Iulian Andrei WG 22 Cristian Săuan Coach: Bernard Charreyre

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Australia vs Namibia

25 October 2003

Australia	142–0	Namibia
Try: Latham (5) Lyons Mortlock Tuqiri (3) Penalty try Rogers (2) Paul Giteau (3) Grey Turinui (2) Burke Roe Con: Rogers (16)	Report

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Attendance: 28,196 Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

FB 15 Chris Latham RW 14 Lote Tuqiri OC 13 Stirling Mortlock IC 12 Nathan Grey LW 11 Mat Rogers FH 10 Matt Giteau SH 9 Chris Whitaker N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 David Croft BF 6 George Smith RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 Justin Harrison TP 3 Ben Darwin HK 2 Jeremy Paul LP 1 Matt Dunning Replacements: HK 16 Brendan Cannon PR 17 Bill Young LK 18 David Giffin N8 19 John Roe FL 20 Matt Cockbain CE 21 Morgan Turinui FB 22 Matt Burke Coach: Eddie Jones

FB 15 Ronaldo Pedro RW 14 Deon Mouton OC 13 Du Preez Grobler IC 12 Emile Wessels LW 11 Jurie Booysen FH 10 Morné Schreuder SH 9 Hakkies Husselman N8 8 Jurgens van Lill OF 7 Herman Lintvelt BF 6 Shaun van Rooi RL 5 Eben Isaacs LL 4 Heino Senekal TP 3 Niel du Toit HK 2 Cor van Tonder LP 1 Kees Lensing Replacements: HK 16 Phillipus Isaacs PR 17 Andries Blaauw FL 18 Schalk van der Merwe FL 19 Sean Furter WG 20 Niel Swanepoel FB 21 Deon Grunschloss WG 22 Melrick Africa Coach: David Waterston

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Argentina vs Ireland

26 October 2003

Argentina	15–16	Ireland
Pen: Quesada (3) Drop: Quesada Corleto	Report	Try: Quinlan Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys O'Gara (2)

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Attendance: 30,203 Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

FB 15 Ignacio Corleto RW 14 José María Núñez Piossek OC 13 José Orengo IC 12 Felipe Contepomi LW 11 Diego Albanese FH 10 Gonzalo Quesada SH 9 Agustín Pichot (c) N8 8 Gonzalo Longo OF 7 Rolando Martín BF 6 Lucas Ostiglia RL 5 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis LL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Mauricio Reggiardo HK 2 Federico Méndez LP 1 Roberto Diego Grau Replacements: HK 16 Mario Ledesma PR 17 Martín Scelzo LK 18 Patricio Albacete FL 19 Santiago Phelan SH 20 Nicolás Fernández Miranda CE 21 Martín Gaitán FB 22 Juan Martín Hernández Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

FB 15 Girvan Dempsey RW 14 Shane Horgan OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Kevin Maggs LW 11 Denis Hickie FH 10 David Humphreys SH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Victor Costello OF 7 Alan Quinlan BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Malcolm O'Kelly TP 3 John Hayes (c) HK 2 Keith Wood LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Replacements: HK 16 Shane Byrne PR 17 Marcus Horan LK 18 Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19 Eric Miller SH 20 Guy Easterby FH 21 Ronan O'Gara WG 22 John Kelly Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan

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Namibia vs Romania

30 October 2003

Namibia	7–37	Romania
Try: Isaacs Con: Wessels	Report	Try: Petrechei Sîrbu Chiriac Teodorescu Săuan Con: Tofan (3) Pen: Tofan (2)

York Park, Launceston Attendance: 15,457 Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

FB 15 Ronaldo Pedro RW 14 Deon Mouton OC 13 Du Preez Grobler IC 12 Emile Wessels LW 11 Vincent Dreyer FH 10 Morné Schreuder SH 9 Niel Swanepoel N8 8 Sean Furter (c) OF 7 Wolfie Duvenhage BF 6 Schalk van der Merwe RL 5 Eben Isaacs LL 4 Heino Senekal TP 3 Niel du Toit HK 2 Johannes Meyer LP 1 Kees Lensing Replacements: HK 16 Cor van Tonder PR 17 Andries Blaauw FL 18 Herman Lintvelt N8 19 Jurgens van Lill CE 20 Rudie van Vuuren FB 21 Deon Grunschloss CE 22 Corne Powell Coach: David Waterston

FB 15 Dănuț Dumbravă RW 14 Ion Teodorescu OC 13 Valentin Maftei IC 12 Romeo Gontineac (c) LW 11 Gabriel Brezoianu FH 10 Ionuț Tofan SH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 Sorin Socol OF 7 Ovidiu Tonița BF 6 George Chiriac RL 5 Cristian Petre LL 4 Augustin Petrechei TP 3 Marcel Socaciu HK 2 Răzvan Mavrodin LP 1 Petru Bălan Replacements: PR 16 Cezar Popescu PR 17 Petrișor Toderașc PR 18 Silviu Florea FL 19 Alexandru Tudori SH 20 Iulian Andrei WG 21 Cristian Săuan CE 22 Mihai Vioreanu Coach: Bernard Charreyre

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Australia vs Ireland

1 November 2003

Australia	17–16	Ireland
Try: Smith Pen: Flatley (3) Drop: Gregan	Report	Try: O'Driscoll Con: O'Gara Pen: O'Gara (2) Drop: O'Driscoll

Docklands Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 54,206 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

FB 15 Mat Rogers RW 14 Wendell Sailor OC 13 Matt Burke IC 12 Elton Flatley LW 11 Joe Roff FH 10 Stephen Larkham SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 Phil Waugh BF 6 George Smith RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 David Giffin TP 3 Ben Darwin HK 2 Brendan Cannon LP 1 Bill Young Replacements: HK 16 Jeremy Paul PR 17 Al Baxter LK 18 Dan Vickerman FL 19 Matt Cockbain SH 20 Chris Whitaker FH 21 Matt Giteau WG 22 Lote Tuqiri Coach: Eddie Jones

FB 15 Girvan Dempsey RW 14 Shane Horgan OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Kevin Maggs LW 11 Denis Hickie FH 10 Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Anthony Foley OF 7 Keith Gleeson BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Malcolm O'Kelly TP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Keith Wood (c) LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Replacements: HK 16 Shane Byrne PR 17 Marcus Horan LK 18 Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19 Eric Miller SH 20 Guy Easterby FH 21 David Humphreys WG 22 John Kelly Coach: Eddie O'Sullivan

References

1. "World Cup schedule". BBC Sport. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
2. "Ireland ensure World Cup place". BBC Sport. 28 September 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
3. "Romania into World Cup". ESPNscrum. 5 October 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
4. "Rugby World Cup takes shape". BBC Sport. 13 October 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2023.