Pool A of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 8 September and was completed on 30 September. The pool was composed of 2003 World Cup winners England, as well as Samoa, South Africa, Tonga and United States.
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.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification |
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1 | South Africa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 47 | +142 | 3 | 19 | Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup |
2 | England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 88 | +20 | 2 | 14 | |
3 | Tonga | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 96 | −7 | 1 | 9 | Eliminated, automatic qualification for 2011 Rugby World Cup |
4 | Samoa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 143 | −74 | 1 | 5 | |
5 | United States | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 61 | 142 | −81 | 1 | 1 |
All times local (UTC+2)
8 September 2007 18:00 |
England | 28–10 | United States |
Try: Robinson 35' m Barkley 40+' c Rees 49' c Con: Barkley (2/3) Pen: Barkley (3/3) 7', 22', 31' | Report | Try: Moeakiola 74' c Con: Hercus (1/1) Pen: Hercus (1/1) 9' |
Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Attendance: 36,755 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
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9 September 2007 16:00 |
South Africa | 59–7 | Samoa |
Try: Habana (4) 33' m, 56' c, 66' c, 76' m Montgomery (2) 40+' c, 53' m Fourie 47' c JP Pietersen 80+' c Con: Montgomery (5/8) Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 10', 15' | Report | Try: Williams 18' c Con: Williams (1/1) |
Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 46,575 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) |
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12 September 2007 14:00 |
United States | 15–25 | Tonga |
Try: MacDonald 47' m Stanfill 67' c Con: Hercus (1/2) Pen: Hercus (1/2) 33' | Report | Try: Maka 2' c Vaka 59' m Vaki 70' c Con: Hola (2/3) Pen: Hola (2/2) 7', 26' |
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
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14 September 2007 21:00 |
England | 0–36 | South Africa |
Report | Try: Smith 6' c Pietersen (2) 38' c, 64' c Con: Montgomery (3/3) Pen: Steyn (1/1) 11' Montgomery (4/4) 36', 46', 55', 79' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 77,523 Referee: Joël Jutge (France) |
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16 September 2007 16:00 |
Samoa | 15–19 | Tonga |
Pen: Williams (5/6) 6', 21', 23', 29', 69' | Report | Try: Taione 60' c Con: Hola (1/1) Pen: Hola (4/5) 3', 38', 47', 67' |
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 24,128 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
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22 September 2007 14:00 |
South Africa | 30–25 | Tonga |
Try: Pienaar (2) 18' c, 65' m Smith 59' c Skinstad 62' m Con: Pretorius (1/1) Montgomery (1/3) Pen: Steyn (1/1) 54' Montgomery (1/1) 76' | Report | Try: Pulu 44' c Hufanga 70' m Vaki 72' c Con: Hola (2/3) Pen: Hola (2/3) 9', 78' |
Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Attendance: 40,069 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
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22 September 2007 16:00 |
England | 44–22 | Samoa |
Try: Corry (2) 2' c, 76' c Sackey (2) 32' c, 80+' m Con: Wilkinson (3/4) Pen: Wilkinson (4/6) 15', 22', 33', 72' Drop: Wilkinson (2/3) 6', 69' | Report | Try: Polu 47' c Con: Crichton (1/1) Pen: Crichton (5/5) 9', 12', 38', 40+, 42' |
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Attendance: 37,022 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland) |
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26 September 2007 20:00 |
Samoa | 25–21 | United States |
Try: Fa'atau 5' m Tuilagi 9' c Thompson 37' c Con: Crichton (2/3) Pen: Crichton (2/2) 30', 72' | Report | Try: Ngwenya 53' c Stanfill 79' m Con: Hercus (1/2) Pen: Hercus (3/4) 32', 65', 75' |
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 34,124 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
28 September 2007 21:00 |
England | 36–20 | Tonga |
Try: Sackey (2) 20' m, 38' m Tait 57' c Farrell 66' c Con: Wilkinson (2/4) Pen: Wilkinson (2/3) 14', 36' Drop: Wilkinson (2/2) 32', 72' | Report | Try: Hufanga 17' c T-Pole 80' c Con: Hola (2/2) Pen: Hola (2/2) 11', 55' |
Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 45,085 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
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30 September 2007 20:00 |
South Africa | 64–15 | United States |
Try: Burger 10' c 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 Con: Montgomery (6/7) James (2/2) Pen: Montgomery (1/1) 17' | Report | Try: Ngwenya 39' c Wyles 51' m Con: Hercus (1/2) Pen: Hercus (1/1) 20' |
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 28,750 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England) |
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