Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 8 September and was completed on 29 September. The pool was composed of 2003 hosts Australia, as well as Canada, Fiji, Japan and Wales.
Wales' 38–34 loss to Fiji in their final pool game (their third World Cup loss to a Pacific island nation, having previously been beaten 16–13 by Western Samoa in 1991 and 38-31 by Samoa in 1999, both times in Cardiff), meant Fiji qualified for the quarter-finals at Wales' expense. Australia finished in top spot with the maximum of 20 points, while Japan and Canada played out the first draw in a Rugby World Cup game since a 20–20 draw between France and Scotland back in 1987. Neither Japan nor Canada managed to win any of their four games, with a single bonus point in Japan's favour proving the difference between them, after they managed to remain within 7 points of Fiji in a 35–31 defeat.
Standings
All times local (UTC+2)
Matches Australia vs Japan
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Stephen Larkham SH 9 George GreganN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 George SmithBF 6 Rocky ElsomRL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Al Baxter HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt Dunning Replacements:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Guy Shepherdson LK 18Hugh McMeniman N8 19Stephen Hoiles FH 20Berrick Barnes WG 21Drew Mitchell WG 22Mark Gerrard Coach: John Connolly FB 15Tatsuya KusumiRW 14Tomoki KitagawaOC 13Koji TairaIC 12Nataniela OtoLW 11Hirotoki OnozawaFH 10Kosei OnoSH 9 Yuki YatomiN8 8 Hajime KisoOF 7 Takamichi Sasaki (c) BF 6 Yasunori Watanabe RL 5 Luatangi VatuveiLL 4 Takanori KumagaeTP 3 Ryo YamamuraHK 2 Taku InokuchiLP 1 Masahito YamamotoReplacements:HK 16Yuji MatsubaraPR 17Tomokazu SomaLK 18Hitoshi OnoFL 19Hare Makiri SH 20Tomoki YoshidaCE 21Bryce RobinsWG 22Kosuke EndoCoach: John Kirwan
Man of the Match: Rocky Elsom (Australia)
Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Dave Pearson (England) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Fifth official: Laurent Valin (France)
Australia's starting 15 in this match was the most-experienced starting team in the sport's history, as measured by total number of international caps entering the match. The Wallabies squad that took the field for the opening kickoff had earned a combined total of 798 caps.
Wales vs Canada
FB 15Kevin Morgan RW 14Mark JonesOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Sonny ParkerLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10James Hook SH 9 Dwayne Peel (c) N8 8 Alix PophamOF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Ian Gough TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Rhys Thomas PR 17Duncan Jones N8 18Michael Owen FL 19Colin Charvis SH 20Michael Phillips FH 21Stephen Jones FB 22Gareth Thomas Coach: Gareth Jenkins FB 15Mike PykeRW 14D. T. H. van der MerweOC 13Craig CulpanIC 12Dave SpicerLW 11James PritchardFH 10Ander Monro SH 9 Morgan Williams (c) N8 8 Sean-Michael StephenOF 7 Dave Biddle BF 6 Jamie Cudmore RL 5 Mike JamesLL 4 Luke Tait TP 3 Jon Thiel HK 2 Pat RiordanLP 1 Rod Snow Replacements:HK 16Aaron Carpenter PR 17Dan Pletch PR 18Mike Pletch LK 19Mike Burak FL 20Colin Yukes SH 21Ed Fairhurst FH 22Ryan Smith Coach: Ric Suggitt
Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada)
Touch judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Christophe Dutreuilh (France)
Japan vs Fiji
FB 15Go Aruga RW 14Christian LoamanuOC 13Yuta ImamuraIC 12Shotaro OnishiLW 11Kosuke EndoFH 10Bryce RobinsSH 9 Tomoki Yoshida N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c)OF 7 Philip O'ReillyBF 6 Hare MakiriRL 5 Luke ThompsonLL 4 Hitoshi OnoTP 3 Tomokazu Soma HK 2 Yuji MatsubaraLP 1 Tatsukichi NishiuraReplacements:HK 16Taku InokuchiPR 17Ryo Yamamura LK 18Takanori KumagaeFL 19Ryota AsanoSH 20Yuki Yatomi CE 21Koji Taira WG 22Hirotoki Onozawa Coach: John Kirwan FB 15Kameli Ratuvou RW 14Vilimoni Delasau OC 13Seru RabeniIC 12Seremaia BaiLW 11Isoa NeivuaFH 10Nicky LittleSH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c)N8 8 Sisa Koyamaibole OF 7 Akapusi Qera BF 6 Semisi NaevoRL 5 Wame LewaravuLL 4 Kele LeawereTP 3 Henry Qiodravu HK 2 Sunia KotoLP 1 Graham DewesReplacements:HK 16Vereniki SauturagaPR 17Jone Railomo FL 18Netani Talei FL 19Aca Ratuva SH 20Jone DaunivucuCE 21Gabiriele LovobalavuFB 22Norman Ligairi Coach: Ilie Tabua Man of the Match: Akapusi Qera (Fiji)
Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Paul Marks (New Zealand) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Chris White (England) Fifth official: Romain Poite (France)
Wales vs Australia
FB 15Gareth Thomas (c) RW 14Mark JonesOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Sonny Parker LW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Jonathan ThomasOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Ian Gough TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Rhys Thomas PR 17Duncan Jones LK 18Michael Owen N8 19Alix Popham SH 20Michael Phillips FH 21James Hook FB 22Kevin Morgan Coach: Gareth Jenkins FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Drew Mitchell OC 13Stirling Mortlock (c) IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Berrick Barnes SH 9 George GreganN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt DunningReplacements:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Al Baxter LK 18Mark Chisholm N8 19Stephen Hoiles FL 20Phil Waugh CE 21Scott Staniforth FB 22Julian Huxley Coach: John Connolly Man of the Match: Chris Latham (Australia)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Fiji vs Canada
FB 15Kameli RatuvouRW 14Vilimoni DelasauOC 13Seru Rabeni IC 12Seremaia BaiLW 11Isoa Neivua FH 10Nicky LittleSH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c)N8 8 Sisa KoyamaiboleOF 7 Akapusi QeraBF 6 Semisi Naevo RL 5 Ifereimi RawaqaLL 4 Kele LeawereTP 3 Jone Railomo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Graham DewesReplacements:HK 16Vereniki Sauturaga PR 17Henry Qiodravu FL 18Netani Talei N8 19Jone QovuSH 20Jone DaunivucuCE 21Maleli Kunavore FB 22Norman Ligairi Coach: Ilie Tabua FB 15Mike PykeRW 14D. T. H. van der MerweOC 13Craig CulpanIC 12Dave SpicerLW 11James PritchardFH 10Ryan SmithSH 9 Morgan Williams (c)N8 8 Sean-Michael Stephen OF 7 Dave BiddleBF 6 Jamie CudmoreRL 5 Mike JamesLL 4 Mike Burak TP 3 Jon ThielHK 2 Pat Riordan LP 1 Rod Snow Replacements:HK 16Aaron Carpenter PR 17Dan Pletch PR 18Mike PletchLK 19Luke Tait FL 20Colin Yukes SH 21Ed FairhurstFH 22Ander MonroCoach: Ric Suggitt Man of the Match: Kameli Ratuvou (Fiji)
Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France) Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Joël Jutge (France) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Wales vs Japan
FB 15Kevin MorganRW 14Dafydd JamesOC 13Jamie Robinson IC 12James HookLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen Jones (c) SH 9 Michael Phillips N8 8 Alix Popham OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin CharvisRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 Will JamesTP 3 Chris Horsman HK 2 Rhys Thomas LP 1 Duncan JonesReplacements:HK 16Huw Bennett PR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Ian Evans N8 19Michael Owen SH 20Gareth Cooper FH 21Ceri Sweeney CE 22Tom Shanklin Coach: Gareth Jenkins FB 15Christian LoamanuRW 14Kosuke EndoOC 13Yuta Imamura IC 12Shotaro Onishi LW 11Hirotoki OnozawaFH 10Bryce RobinsSH 9 Tomoki Yoshida N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c)OF 7 Hare Makiri BF 6 Yasunori WatanabeRL 5 Luke Thompson LL 4 Hitoshi OnoTP 3 Tomokazu Soma HK 2 Yuji Matsubara LP 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura Replacements:HK 16Taku Inokuchi PR 17Ryo Yamamura LK 18Hajime Kiso FL 19Ryota Asano SH 20Chulwon Kim CE 21Koji Taira FB 22Tatsuya Kusumi Coach: John Kirwan
Man of the Match: Michael Phillips (Wales)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Australia vs Fiji
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Drew MitchellOC 13Adam Ashley-CooperIC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Berrick Barnes SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 Phil WaughBF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel VickermanLL 4 Mark ChisholmTP 3 Guy ShepherdsonHK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt Dunning Replacements:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Greg Holmes LK 18Hugh McMeniman N8 19Stephen Hoiles SH 20Sam Cordingley CE 21Scott Staniforth FB 22Julian Huxley Coach: John Connolly FB 15Norman LigairiRW 14Vilimoni DelasauOC 13Maleli Kunavore IC 12Seremaia Bai (c)LW 11Isoa NeivuaFH 10Waisea Luveniyali SH 9 Jone Daunivucu N8 8 Jone QovuOF 7 Aca RatuvaBF 6 Netani Talei RL 5 Ifereimi RawaqaLL 4 Isoa Domolailai TP 3 Henry QiodravuHK 2 Vereniki SauturagaLP 1 Alefoso Yalayalatabua Replacements:HK 16Bill GadoloPR 17Jone Railomo LK 18Wame Lewaravu N8 19Sisa Koyamaibole SH 20Mosese Rauluni CE 21Gabiriele Lovobalavu CE 22Seru Rabeni Coach: Ilie Tabua Man of the Match: Matt Giteau (Australia)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Christophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Romain Poite (France) Fifth official: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France)
Canada vs Japan
FB 15Mike PykeRW 14D. T. H. van der MerweOC 13Craig Culpan IC 12Dave SpicerLW 11James PritchardFH 10Ryan SmithSH 9 Morgan Williams (c)N8 8 Aaron Carpenter OF 7 Adam Kleeberger BF 6 Colin YukesRL 5 Mike JamesLL 4 Mike BurakTP 3 Jon Thiel HK 2 Pat Riordan LP 1 Rod Snow Replacements:PR 16Mike Pletch PR 17Dan Pletch PR 18Scott Franklin LK 19Josh Jackson FL 20Mike Webb SH 21Ed FairhurstWG 22Justin Mensah-Coker Coach: Ric Suggitt FB 15Go ArugaRW 14Kosuke Endo OC 13Yuta Imamura IC 12Shotaro OnishiLW 11Christian LoamanuFH 10Bryce RobinsSH 9 Tomoki Yoshida N8 8 Takuro Miuchi (c) OF 7 Philip O'ReillyBF 6 Hare MakiriRL 5 Luke ThompsonLL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 Tomokazu Soma HK 2 Yuji MatsubaraLP 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura Replacements:HK 16Taku InokuchiPR 17Ryo Yamamura LK 18Luatangi Vatuvei FL 19Hajime Kiso SH 20Chulwon Kim CE 21Koji Taira FB 22Hirotoki Onozawa Coach: John Kirwan Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Joël Jutge (France) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Hervé Dubes (France)
Australia vs Canada
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Cameron ShepherdOC 13Lote TuqiriIC 12Adam Ashley-CooperLW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Julian HuxleySH 9 Sam Cordingley N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 George Smith (c)BF 6 Hugh McMenimanRL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 Nathan Sharpe TP 3 Al BaxterHK 2 Adam Freier LP 1 Greg HolmesReplacements:HK 16Sean Hardman PR 17Guy ShepherdsonFL 18Rocky ElsomFL 19Phil Waugh N8 20Stephen Hoiles SH 21George Gregan CE 22Matt GiteauCoach: John Connolly FB 15D. T. H. van der Merwe RW 14Justin Mensah-CokerOC 13Mike PykeIC 12Derek Daypuck LW 11James PritchardFH 10Ander MonroSH 9 Morgan Williams (c)N8 8 Sean-Michael Stephen OF 7 Dave BiddleBF 6 Colin Yukes RL 5 Mike James LL 4 Luke TaitTP 3 Jon ThielHK 2 Pat Riordan LP 1 Rod Snow Replacements:HK 16Aaron Carpenter PR 17Dan Pletch PR 18Mike Pletch LK 19Mike Burak FL 20Mike Webb SH 21Ed Fairhurst CE 22Nick Trenkel Coach: Ric Suggitt Man of the Match: Hugh McMeniman (Australia)
Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Fourth official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fifth official: Stephan Pomarede (France)
Wales vs Fiji