Pool C of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 8 September and concluded on 29 September 2007. The pool was composed of Italy, New Zealand, Romania and Scotland and World Cup debutants Portugal.
Standings New Zealand were assured of first place in the pool after only three rounds of matches, having secured the maximum of five points from each of their matches. Over their four matches, the All Blacks established a new points record for the pool stage with 309 points.
Italy were unable to carry their strong Six Nations form into the World Cup, and were knocked out by a narrow margin. Scotland qualified for the quarter-finals as pool runners-up.
Matches All times local (UTC+2)
New Zealand vs Italy
FB 15Leon MacDonaldRW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Mils Muliaina IC 12Luke McAlisterLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Anton Oliver PR 17Neemia Tialata FL 18Chris Masoe N8 19Sione Lauaki SH 20Brendon Leonard CE 21Aaron Mauger CE 22Isaia Toeava Coach: Graham Henry FB 15David Bortolussi RW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Andrea MasiIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Marko StanojevicFH 10Roland de MarignySH 9 Alessandro Troncon N8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Alessandro Zanni RL 5 Marco Bortolami (c) LL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Salvatore Perugini Replacements:HK 16Carlo Festuccia PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero LK 18Valerio Bernabò N8 19Manoa Vosawai SH 20Paul Griffen WG 21Gonzalo CanaleFB 22Ezio Galon Coach: Pierre Berbizier Man of the Match: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Christophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Franck Maciello (France)
Note: Doug Howlett's three tries in this match brought him level with Christian Cullen as New Zealand's all-time highest try scorer, with 46.
Scotland vs Portugal
FB 15Rory LamontRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Marcus Di Rollo IC 12Rob DeweyLW 11Simon WebsterFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally HoggBF 6 Jason White (c) RL 5 Scott Murray LL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Scott Lawson LP 1 Allan Jacobsen Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Scott MacLeod FL 19Kelly Brown SH 20Rory Lawson FH 21Chris Paterson FB 22Hugo Southwell Coach: Frank Hadden FB 15Pedro LealRW 14David MateusOC 13Frederico Sousa IC 12Diogo MateusLW 11Pedro CarvalhoFH 10Duarte Cardoso Pinto SH 9 José Pinto N8 8 Vasco Uva (c)OF 7 João Uva BF 6 Juan Severino SomozaRL 5 David Penalva LL 4 Gonçalo UvaTP 3 Ruben SpachuckHK 2 Joaquim Ferreira LP 1 Rui Cordeiro Replacements:PR 16Juan Muré HK 17João Correia FL 18Paulo Murinello FL 19Diogo Coutinho SH 20Luís Pissarra FH 21Pedro Cabral CE 22Miguel Portela Coach: Tomaz Morais Man of the Match: Vasco Uva (Portugal)
Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Marius Jonker (South Africa) Television match official: Dave Pearson (England) Fourth official: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Fifth official: Cyril Lafon (France)
Italy vs Romania
FB 15David Bortolussi RW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Andrea Masi FH 10Ramiro PezSH 9 Paul Griffen N8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh Sole RL 5 Marco Bortolami (c)LL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martin CastrogiovanniHK 2 Carlo FestucciaLP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroReplacements:HK 16Leonardo GhiraldiniPR 17Matías AgüeroLK 18Valerio Bernabò N8 19Manoa Vosawai SH 20Alessandro Troncon WG 21Ezio Galon FH 22Roland de MarignyCoach: Pierre Berbizier FB 15Iulian Dumitraș RW 14Cătălin FercuOC 13Csaba GálIC 12Romeo GontineacLW 11Gabriel BrezoianuFH 10Ionuț DimofteSH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 Ovidiu Tonița OF 7 Alexandru Manta BF 6 Florin CorodeanuRL 5 Cristian PetreLL 4 Sorin Socol (c)TP 3 Bogdan BălanHK 2 Marius Țincu LP 1 Petrișor Toderașc Replacements:HK 16Răzvan Mavrodin PR 17Cezar Popescu LK 18Cosmin Rațiu N8 19Alexandru Tudori SH 20Valentin Calafeteanu CE 21Ionuț TofanCE 22Dan Vlad Coach: Daniel Santamans Man of the Match: Ramiro Pez (Italy)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Franck Maciello (France)
New Zealand vs Portugal
FB 15Mils Muliaina RW 14Isaia ToeavaOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Joe RokocokoFH 10Nick EvansSH 9 Brendon Leonard N8 8 Sione LauakiOF 7 Chris MasoeBF 6 Jerry Collins (c) RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Chris Jack TP 3 Greg Somerville HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Neemia TialataReplacements:HK 16Anton Oliver PR 17Tony Woodcock PR 18Carl Hayman N8 19Rodney So'oialo HK 20Keven Mealamu SH 21Andy Ellis FB 22Leon MacDonald Coach: Graham Henry FB 15Pedro LealRW 14António AguilarOC 13Miguel PortelaIC 12Diogo MateusLW 11Pedro CarvalhoFH 10Gonçalo Malheiro SH 9 Luís Pissarra N8 8 Vasco Uva (c) OF 7 Paulo MurinelloBF 6 Diogo Coutinho RL 5 Gonçalo Uva LL 4 Marcello d'Orey TP 3 Ruben SpachuckHK 2 João CorreiaLP 1 André Silva Replacements:PR 16Rui Cordeiro PR 17Joaquim Ferreira LK 18David Penalva FL 19Tiago Girão FL 20João Uva SH 21José Pinto FH 22Duarte Cardoso Pinto Coach: Tomaz Morais
Man of the Match: Jerry Collins (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Marius Jonker (South Africa) Television match official: Dave Pearson (England) Fourth official: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Fifth official: Laurent Valin (France)
Scotland vs Romania
FB 15Rory LamontRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Simon WebsterIC 12Rob Dewey LW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally Hogg BF 6 Jason White (c)RL 5 Jim HamiltonLL 4 Nathan Hines TP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Gavin Kerr Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Craig Smith LK 18Scott MacLeod FL 19Kelly Brown SH 20Chris Cusiter FB 21Hugo Southwell WG 22Nikki Walker Coach: Frank Hadden FB 15Iulian DumitrașRW 14Cătălin FercuOC 13Csaba GálIC 12Romeo Gontineac LW 11Gabriel BrezoianuFH 10Ionuț Dimofte SH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 Ovidiu TonițaOF 7 Alexandru Manta BF 6 Florin Corodeanu RL 5 Cristian PetreLL 4 Sorin Socol (c)TP 3 Bogdan Bălan HK 2 Marius Țincu LP 1 Petrișor ToderașcReplacements:PR 16Silviu Florea HK 17Răzvan Mavrodin LK 18Cosmin Rațiu N8 19Alexandru Tudori SH 20Valentin Calafeteanu CE 21Ionuț Tofan FB 22Florin Vlaicu Coach: Daniel Santamans Man of the Match: Ally Hogg (Scotland)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Christophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Fourth official: Wayne Barnes (England) Fifth official: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Note: With an attendance of 31,222, Scotland vs Romania was the lowest-attended match in Pool C, despite Scotland playing at home.
Italy vs Portugal
FB 15David BortolussiRW 14Pablo CanavosioOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Andrea MasiLW 11Matteo PratichettiFH 10Roland de MarignySH 9 Alessandro Troncon N8 8 Manoa Vosawai OF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Sergio ParisseRL 5 Marco Bortolami (c) LL 4 Carlo Del FavaTP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo GhiraldiniLP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Replacements:HK 16Fabio OngaroPR 17Matías Agüero PR 18Salvatore Perugini LK 19Valerio BernabòFL 20Silvio Orlando SH 21Paul Griffen WG 22Ezio GalonCoach: Pierre Berbizier FB 15Pedro CabralRW 14David Mateus OC 13Federico SousaIC 12Diogo Mateus LW 11António AguilarFH 10Duarte Cardoso PintoSH 9 José Pinto N8 8 Vasco Uva (c)OF 7 João Uva BF 6 Tiago GirãoRL 5 David PenalvaLL 4 Gonçalo UvaTP 3 Ruben Spachuck HK 2 João Correia LP 1 Rui Cordeiro Replacements:PR 16Juan Muré PR 17André Silva PR 18Duarte Figueiredo FL 19Paulo Murinello SH 20Luís Pissarra CE 21Diogo Gama WG 22Gonçalo Foro Coach: Tomaz Morais Man of the Match: José Pinto (Portugal)
Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Paul Marks (Australia) Fourth official: Chris White (England) Fifth official: Eric Molier (France)
Scotland vs New Zealand
FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Nikki WalkerOC 13Marcus Di RolloIC 12Andrew Henderson LW 11Simon WebsterFH 10Chris Paterson SH 9 Chris Cusiter N8 8 David CallamOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Kelly BrownRL 5 Scott Murray (c)LL 4 Scott MacLeod TP 3 Craig Smith HK 2 Scott Lawson LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fergus Thomson PR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Jim Hamilton FL 19Ally HoggSH 20Rory Lawson FH 21Dan Parks CE 22Rob Dewey Coach: Frank Hadden FB 15Leon MacDonald RW 14Doug HowlettOC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Luke McAlisterLW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Chris MasoeRL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Reuben ThorneTP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Anton Oliver LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Andrew Hore PR 17Neemia Tialata LK 18Chris Jack N8 19Sione Lauaki SH 20Brendon Leonard FH 21Nick Evans CE 22Isaia Toeava Coach: Graham Henry Man of the Match: Chris Masoe (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England) Paul Marks (Australia) Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Fourth official: Chris White (England) Fifth official: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Note: Doug Howlett's two tries in this match brought his total in internationals to 48, a new try-scoring record for New Zealand.
Romania vs Portugal
FB 15Iulian DumitrașRW 14Cătălin NicolaeOC 13Ionuț DimofteIC 12Romeo GontineacLW 11Cătălin FercuFH 10Dănuț DumbravăSH 9 Valentin Calafeteanu N8 8 Ovidiu Tonița (c) OF 7 Florin CorodeanuBF 6 Alexandru Tudori RL 5 Cristian PetreLL 4 Cosmin RațiuTP 3 Bogdan Bălan HK 2 Răzvan Mavrodin LP 1 Cezar Popescu Replacements:HK 16Marius Țincu PR 17Paulică Ion LK 18Sorin Socol LK 19Valentin Ursache SH 20Lucian Sîrbu FB 21Florin VlaicuWG 22Gabriel BrezoianuCoach: Daniel Santamans FB 15Pedro LealRW 14António AguilarOC 13Miguel PortelaIC 12Federico SousaLW 11Pedro CarvalhoFH 10Duarte Cardoso Pinto SH 9 José Pinto N8 8 Tiago GirãoOF 7 João Uva BF 6 Diogo CoutinhoRL 5 David Penalva LL 4 Gonçalo UvaTP 3 Ruben Spachuck HK 2 Joaquim Ferreira (c) LP 1 Rui CordeiroReplacements:PR 16Juan Muré PR 17João Correia PR 18Salvador Palha FL 19Paulo Murinello SH 20Luís Pissarra FH 21Gonçalo Malheiro CE 22Diogo GamaCoach: Tomaz Morais Man of the Match: Diogo Coutinho (Portugal)
Touch judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Fourth official: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Fifth official: Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
New Zealand vs Romania
FB 15Nick EvansRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Isaia ToeavaIC 12Aaron MaugerLW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10Luke McAlister SH 9 Andy Ellis N8 8 Sione LauakiOF 7 Chris Masoe BF 6 Jerry Collins (c)RL 5 Keith Robinson LL 4 Reuben ThorneTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Neemia TialataReplacements:HK 16Andrew Hore PR 17Tony WoodcockLK 18Chris Jack FL 19Richie McCaw SH 20Brendon Leonard WG 21Doug Howlett CE 22Conrad Smith Coach: Graham Henry FB 15Iulian Dumitraș RW 14Ștefan CiuntuOC 13Csaba GálIC 12Romeo Gontineac LW 11Gabriel BrezoianuFH 10Ionuț DimofteSH 9 Lucian Sîrbu N8 8 Ovidiu TonițaOF 7 Alexandru Manta BF 6 Florin Corodeanu RL 5 Cristian PetreLL 4 Sorin Socol (c)TP 3 Silviu Florea HK 2 Marius Țincu LP 1 Bogdan Bălan Replacements:HK 16Răzvan Mavrodin PR 17Paulică Ion LK 18Valentin Ursache N8 19Cosmin Rațiu SH 20Valentin Calafeteanu FB 21Florin Vlaicu CE 22Robert Cătălin Dascălu Coach: Daniel Santamans Man of the Match: Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Paul Marks (Australia) Fourth official: Romain Poite (France) Fifth official: Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
Scotland vs Italy