The knockout stage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup began on 6 October with a quarter-final between Australia and England and concluded on 20 October with the final, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, between England and South Africa, their second meeting in this tournament.
South Africa were the first team to qualify for the knockout stage, when they beat Tonga 30–25 in their penultimate Pool A game.
This was the first Rugby World Cup tournament to have its semi-finalists coming from only two pools (Pools A and D), and the finalists coming from just one pool (Pool A). The top two representative nations of each of pools B and C were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Summary
Quarter-finals Australia vs England
FB 15Chris LathamRW 14Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13Stirling Mortlock (c)IC 12Matt GiteauLW 11Lote TuqiriFH 10Berrick BarnesSH 9 George GreganN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 George Smith BF 6 Rocky Elsom RL 5 Daniel Vickerman LL 4 Nathan SharpeTP 3 Guy Shepherdson HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Matt DunningReplacements:HK 16Adam Freier PR 17Al Baxter LK 18Hugh McMeniman N8 19Stephen Hoiles FL 20Phil Waugh FH 21Julian HuxleyWG 22Drew Mitchell Coach: John Connolly FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Mathew TaitIC 12Mike Catt LW 11Josh LewseyFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy Gomarsall N8 8 Nick Easter OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Martin CorryRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil Vickery (c) HK 2 Mark Regan LP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16George Chuter PR 17Matt Stevens N8 18Lawrence Dallaglio FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Peter Richards FH 21Toby Flood CE 22Dan HipkissCoach: Brian Ashton Man of the Match: Andrew Sheridan (England)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Nigel Owens (Wales) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fourth official: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Fifth official: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Notes This was England's third consecutive World Cup win against Australia, following victories in the 1995 quarter-final and 2003 Final, and gave them a 3-2 head-to-head winning World Cup record against the Wallabies. Furthermore, England remained the only team to record a Rugby World Cup win over the Wallabies since South Africa beat them in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup. Jonny Wilkinson's 12 points in this game took him past Gavin Hastings' record of 227 World Cup points.
New Zealand vs France
FB 15Leon MacDonaldRW 14Joe RokocokoOC 13Mils MuliainaIC 12Luke McAlister LW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan Carter SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Rodney So'oialoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerry Collins RL 5 Ali WilliamsLL 4 Keith Robinson TP 3 Carl HaymanHK 2 Anton Oliver LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Andrew Hore PR 17Neemia TialataLK 18Chris Jack FL 19Chris Masoe SH 20Brendon Leonard FH 21Nick Evans CE 22Isaia Toeava Coach: Graham Henry FB 15Damien TrailleRW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David MartyIC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Cédric Heymans FH 10Lionel Beauxis SH 9 Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeN8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Thierry DusautoirBF 6 Serge Betsen RL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien Pelous TP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Olivier Milloud Replacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux LK 18Sébastien Chabal N8 19Imanol Harinordoquy FH 20Frédéric Michalak WG 21Christophe Dominici FB 22Clément PoitrenaudCoach: Bernard Laporte Man of the Match: Luke McAlister (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Tony Spreadbury (England) Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) Television match official: Chris White (England) Fourth official: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Notes This was New Zealand's worst World Cup finish; they had never before failed to reach the semi-finals.
South Africa vs Fiji
FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12François SteynLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch JamesSH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Danie Rossouw BF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 Jannie du PlessisHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements:HK 16Gary BothaPR 17Gurthro Steenkamp LK 18Johannes Muller FL 19Wikus van Heerden SH 20Ruan PienaarFH 21André PretoriusCE 22Wynand OlivierCoach: Jake White FB 15Norman LigairiRW 14Vilimoni DelasauOC 13Kameli Ratuvou IC 12Seru Rabeni LW 11Sereli BoboFH 10Seremaia BaiSH 9 Mosese Rauluni (c)N8 8 Sisa KoyamaiboleOF 7 Akapusi Qera BF 6 Semisi NaevoRL 5 Ifereimi RawaqaLL 4 Kele Leawere TP 3 Henry Qiodravu HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Graham DewesReplacements:HK 16Bill Gadolo PR 17Jone Railomo CE 18Aca Ratuva LK 19Wame Lewaravu SH 20Jone DaunivucuFH 21Waisea LuveniyaliCE 22Gabiriele Lovobalavu Coach: Ilie Tabua Man of the Match: Juan Smith (South Africa)
Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Television match official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fourth official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fifth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Notes This was Fiji's first quarter-final appearance since the inaugural competition in 1987.
Argentina vs Scotland
FB 15Ignacio CorletoRW 14Lucas BorgesOC 13Manuel Contepomi IC 12Felipe ContepomiLW 11Horacio AgullaFH 10Juan Martín HernándezSH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)N8 8 Gonzalo LongoOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Lucas Ostiglia RL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Mario LedesmaLP 1 Rodrigo RonceroReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet BasualdoPR 17Omar Hasan LK 18Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19Juan Manuel Leguizamón SH 20Nicolás Fernández MirandaFH 21Federico TodeschiniCE 22Hernán Senillosa Coach: Marcelo Loffreda FB 15Rory Lamont RW 14Sean LamontOC 13Simon WebsterIC 12Rob Dewey LW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally Hogg BF 6 Jason White (c)RL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Gavin Kerr Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Craig Smith LK 18Scott MacLeod FL 19Kelly Brown SH 20Chris Cusiter CE 21Andrew Henderson FB 22Hugo Southwell Coach: Frank Hadden Man of the Match: Gonzalo Longo Elía (Argentina)
Touch judges: Chris White (England) Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Television match official: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Wayne Barnes (England)
Notes Argentina's win took them into their first ever World Cup semi-final. Scotland had been seeking to reach their second semi-final, after a fourth-place finish in 1991.
Semi-finals England vs France
FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Mathew TaitIC 12Mike Catt LW 11Josh Lewsey FH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy Gomarsall N8 8 Nick Easter OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Martin CorryRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil Vickery (c) HK 2 Mark Regan LP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16George Chuter PR 17Matt Stevens N8 18Lawrence Dallaglio FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Peter Richards FH 21Toby Flood CE 22Dan Hipkiss Coach: Brian Ashton FB 15Damien TrailleRW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David MartyIC 12Yannick JauzionLW 11Cédric Heymans FH 10Lionel Beauxis SH 9 Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeN8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Thierry DusautoirBF 6 Serge Betsen RL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien Pelous TP 3 Pieter de Villiers HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Olivier MilloudReplacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Jean-Baptiste Poux LK 18Sébastien Chabal N8 19Imanol Harinordoquy FH 20Frédéric Michalak WG 21Christophe Dominici FB 22Clément PoitrenaudCoach: Bernard Laporte Man of the Match: Mike Catt (England)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Marius Jonker (South Africa) Television match official: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Notes Josh Lewsey's try, scored after 79 seconds, was the fastest in any match in the knockout stage of a Rugby World Cup and is thought to be the fastest try in England's history. Jonny Wilkinson extended his World Cup points record to 243.
South Africa vs Argentina
FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14JP Pietersen OC 13Jaque FourieIC 12François Steyn LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch James SH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Danie Rossouw BF 7 Juan Smith OF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c) LP 1 Os du Randt Replacements:HK 16Bismarck du Plessis PR 17Jannie du Plessis LK 18Johannes Muller N8 19Bobby Skinstad SH 20Ruan Pienaar FH 21André Pretorius CE 22Wynand Olivier Coach: Jake White FB 15Ignacio CorletoRW 14Lucas BorgesOC 13Manuel Contepomi IC 12Felipe Contepomi LW 11Horacio AgullaFH 10Juan Martín HernándezSH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)N8 8 Gonzalo LongoOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Lucas Ostiglia RL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Mario LedesmaLP 1 Rodrigo RonceroReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet BasualdoPR 17Omar Hasan LK 18Rimas Álvarez Kairelis FL 19Juan Manuel Leguizamón SH 20Nicolás Fernández MirandaFH 21Federico TodeschiniCE 22Gonzalo Tiesi Coach: Marcelo Loffreda Man of the Match: Danie Rossouw (South Africa)
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland) Chris White (England) Television match official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fourth official: Joël Jutge (France) Fifth official: Wayne Barnes (England)
Notes With his second try in this match, Bryan Habana equalled Jonah Lomu's single-tournament record of eight tries.
Bronze final: France vs Argentina
FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Aurélien Rougerie OC 12David Marty IC 13David SkrelaLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Frédéric MichalakSH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde N8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Thierry Dusautoir BF 6 Yannick NyangaRL 5 Jérôme Thion LL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez (c) LP 1 Jean-Baptiste PouxReplacements:HK 16Sébastien Bruno PR 17Pieter de VilliersLK 18Sébastien Chabal FL 19Rémy Martin SH 20Pierre Mignoni FH 21Lionel Beauxis WG 22Vincent Clerc Coach: Bernard Laporte FB 15Ignacio Corleto RW 14Federico Martín AramburúOC 13Manuel Contepomi IC 12Felipe Contepomi LW 11Horacio AgullaFH 10Juan Martín HernándezSH 9 Agustín Pichot (c)N8 8 Gonzalo LongoOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Martín Durand RL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis TP 3 Omar Hasan HK 2 Alberto Vernet BasualdoLP 1 Rodrigo Roncero Replacements:HK 16Eusebio Guiñazu PR 17Marcos Ayerza LK 18Esteban Lozada N8 19Juan Manuel Leguizamón SH 20Nicolás Fernández Miranda FH 21Federico Todeschini CE 22Hernán Senillosa Coach: Marcelo Loffreda Man of the Match: Agustín Pichot (Argentina)
Touch judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Nigel Owens (Wales) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fourth official: Wayne Barnes (England) Fifth official: Chris White (England)
Notes This was referee Paul Honiss's 45th test, breaking the record he had previously shared with Derek Bevan of Wales. This record would be surpassed by Jonathan Kaplan in 2008. French centre David Marty played outside centre despite wearing the #12, David Skrela played inside centre with the #13. This was the first occasion in Rugby World Cup history where two teams who had played each other in the pool stage met each other later on in the same tournament.
Final: England vs South Africa
FB 15Jason Robinson RW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Mathew TaitIC 12Mike Catt LW 11Mark CuetoFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy GomarsallN8 8 Nick Easter OF 7 Lewis Moody BF 6 Martin CorryRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil Vickery (c) HK 2 Mark Regan LP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16George Chuter PR 17Matt Stevens N8 18Lawrence Dallaglio FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Peter Richards FH 21Toby Flood CE 22Dan Hipkiss Coach: Brian Ashton FB 15Percy MontgomeryRW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jaque FourieIC 12François SteynLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch JamesSH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Danie Rossouw BF 7 Juan SmithOF 6 Schalk BurgerRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies BothaTP 3 CJ van der LindeHK 2 John Smit (c) LP 1 Os du RandtReplacements:HK 16Bismarck du Plessis PR 17Jannie du PlessisLK 18Johannes MullerFL 19Wikus van Heerden SH 20Ruan PienaarFH 21André PretoriusCE 22Wynand OlivierCoach: Jake White Man of the Match: Victor Matfield (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France) Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Television match official: