Pool B of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 19 September and was completed on 11 October 2015. The pool was composed of South Africa, Samoa and Scotlandwho all qualified automatically for the tournament due to finishing in the top three positions in their pools in 2011joined by the top Asian qualifier, Japan, and the second American qualifier, United States. South Africa and Scotland qualified for the quarter-finals.
Standings
Matches All times are local United Kingdom time (UTC+01)
South Africa vs Japan
FB 15Zane KirchnerRW 14Bryan HabanaOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Jean de Villiers (c)LW 11Lwazi Mvovo FH 10Pat Lambie SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Schalk BurgerBF 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit OF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Lood de Jager TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Coenie Oosthuizen LK 19Eben Etzebeth FL 20Siya Kolisi SH 21Fourie du Preez FH 22Handré Pollard WG 23JP Pietersen Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Akihito Yamada OC 13Male Sa'uIC 12Harumichi TatekawaLW 11Kotaro MatsushimaFH 10Kosei Ono SH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Hendrik Tui OF 7 Michael BroadhurstBF 6 Michael Leitch (c)RL 5 Hitoshi Ono LL 4 Luke ThompsonTP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Masataka Mikami Replacements:HK 16Takeshi Kizu PR 17Keita Inagaki PR 18Hiroshi Yamashita LK 19Shinya Makabe N8 20Amanaki Mafi SH 21Atsushi Hiwasa CE 22Yu Tamura WG 23Karne Hesketh Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Fumiaki Tanaka earned his 50th test cap for Japan. This was the first ever match between these nations. This was South Africa's first ever loss to a Tier 2 nation. This was Japan's second-ever Test win over a SANZAAR nation. This match is known as "The Brighton Miracle" and is featured in the film of the same name.
Samoa vs United States
FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Ken PisiOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Rey Lee-Lo LW 11Alesana Tuilagi FH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'iN8 8 Ofisa Treviranus (c)OF 7 Jack LamBF 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu RL 5 Joe Tekori LL 4 Filo PauloTP 3 Anthony Perenise HK 2 Ole Avei LP 1 Sakaria TaulafoReplacements:HK 16Motu Matu'u PR 17Viliamu AfatiaPR 18Census Johnston FL 19Faifili Levave FL 20Alafoti Faosiliva SH 21Vavao AfemaiFH 22Michael Stanley WG 23Fa'atoina Autagavaia Coach: Stephen Betham FB 15Blaine Scully RW 14Takudzwa NgwenyaOC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Thretton PalamoLW 11Chris Wyles (c)FH 10AJ MacGintySH 9 Mike PetriN8 8 Samu ManoaOF 7 Andrew DurutaloBF 6 Alastair McFarlandRL 5 Greg Peterson LL 4 Hayden Smith TP 3 Titi Lamositele HK 2 Zach Fenoglio LP 1 Eric Fry Replacements:HK 16Phil Thiel PR 17Olive Kilifi PR 18Chris Baumann LK 19Cam Dolan N8 20Danny Barrett FH 21Shalom SuniulaCE 22Folau NiuaWG 23Brett Thompson Coach: Mike Tolkin Man of the Match: Tim Nanai-Williams (Samoa)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Scotland vs Japan
FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Mark Bennett IC 12Matt Scott LW 11Sean LamontFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)N8 8 David Denton OF 7 John HardieBF 6 Ryan Wilson RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Grant Gilchrist TP 3 WP Nel HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Ryan Grant PR 18Jon Welsh LK 19Richie Gray FL 20Josh Strauss SH 21Henry PyrgosCE 22Peter Horne WG 23Sean Maitland Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Kotaro Matsushima OC 13Male Sa'uIC 12Yu TamuraLW 11Kenki Fukuoka FH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Amanaki Mafi OF 7 Michael BroadhurstBF 6 Michael Leitch (c)RL 5 Justin Ives LL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 Hiroshi Yamashita HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Takeshi Kizu PR 17Masataka Mikami PR 18Kensuke Hatakeyama LK 19Shinya Makabe LK 20Shoji Ito FL 21Hendrik Tui SH 22Atsushi Hiwasa WG 23Karne Hesketh Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Josh Strauss made his international debut for Scotland.
South Africa vs Samoa
FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12Damian de Allende LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Handré PollardSH 9 Fourie du Preez N8 8 Duane VermeulenOF 7 Schalk Burger BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Victor Matfield LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Adriaan Strauss LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Schalk Brits PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Frans Malherbe LK 19Lood de Jager FL 20Siya Kolisi SH 21Ruan Pienaar FH 22Pat Lambie CE 23Jesse Kriel Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Ken PisiOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Rey Lee-LoLW 11Alesana Tuilagi FH 10Michael Stanley SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Ofisa Treviranus (c) OF 7 Jack LamBF 6 TJ IoaneRL 5 Joe Tekori LL 4 Filo PauloTP 3 Census Johnston HK 2 Motu Matu'u LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Ole Avei PR 17Viliamu Afatia PR 18Anthony Perenise FL 19Faifili Levave N8 20Sanele Vavae Tuilagi SH 21Vavao Afemai FH 22Tusi Pisi CE 23George Pisi Coach: Stephen Betham Man of the Match: Handré Pollard (South Africa)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Adriaan Strauss earned his 50th test cap for South Africa. Census Johnston earned his 50th test cap for Samoa. George, Ken and Tusi Pisi became the first set of three brothers to represent and play for one team in one XV, in a Rugby World Cup match.
Scotland vs United States
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Sean MaitlandOC 13Mark BennettIC 12Peter Horne LW 11Tim VisserFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Henry Pyrgos (c) N8 8 Josh StraussOF 7 Ryan Wilson BF 6 Alasdair StrokoschRL 5 Grant Gilchrist LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Jon Welsh HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements:HK 16Kevin Bryce PR 17Alasdair Dickinson PR 18WP Nel LK 19Tim Swinson HK 20Fraser Brown SH 21Greig Laidlaw FH 22Duncan Weir CE 23Matt Scott Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Chris Wyles (c)RW 14Takudzwa NgwenyaOC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Thretton PalamoLW 11Blaine Scully FH 10AJ MacGintySH 9 Mike Petri N8 8 Samu ManoaOF 7 Andrew Durutalo BF 6 Alastair McFarlandRL 5 Greg Peterson LL 4 Hayden Smith TP 3 Titi Lamositele HK 2 Phil Thiel LP 1 Eric Fry Replacements:HK 16Zach Fenoglio PR 17Olive Kilifi PR 18Chris Baumann LK 19Cam Dolan FL 20John Quill N8 21Danny Barrett FH 22Shalom Suniula CE 23Folau Niua Coach: Mike Tolkin Man of the Match: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Samoa vs Japan
FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Ken PisiOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Johnny LeotaLW 11Alesana Tuilagi FH 10Tusi PisiSH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Faifili Levave OF 7 TJ Ioane BF 6 Ofisa Treviranus (c) RL 5 Kane ThompsonLL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 Census Johnston HK 2 Ole Avei LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Motu Matu'u PR 17Viliamu Afatia PR 18Anthony Perenise FL 19Jack Lam N8 20Sanele Vavae Tuilagi SH 21Vavao Afemai FH 22Michael StanleyCE 23Rey Lee-Lo Coach: Stephen Betham FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Akihito Yamada OC 13Male Sa'u IC 12Harumichi TatekawaLW 11Kotaro MatsushimaFH 10Kosei OnoSH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Koliniasi Holani OF 7 Michael Broadhurst BF 6 Michael Leitch (c)RL 5 Hitoshi Ono LL 4 Luke ThompsonTP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama HK 2 Shota HorieLP 1 Keita InagakiReplacements:HK 16Takeshi Kizu PR 17Masataka MikamiPR 18Hiroshi Yamashita FL 19Justin Ives N8 20Amanaki Mafi FL 21Hendrik Tui SH 22Atsushi Hiwasa WG 23Karne Hesketh Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: This was Japan's largest winning margin over Samoa, surpassing their 19-point winning margin set in 2014. Atsushi Hiwasa earned his 50th test cap for Japan.
South Africa vs Scotland
FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14JP Pietersen OC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de Allende LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Handré PollardSH 9 Fourie du Preez (c) N8 8 Duane VermeulenOF 7 Schalk Burger BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Lood de Jager LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Frans Malherbe LK 19Pieter-Steph du Toit FL 20Willem Alberts SH 21Ruan Pienaar FH 22Pat Lambie CE 23Jan Serfontein Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Richie Vernon IC 12Matt ScottLW 11Tim VisserFH 10Duncan WeirSH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 David DentonOF 7 Blair CowanBF 6 Josh Strauss RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 WP Nel HK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Gordon Reid Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Alasdair Dickinson PR 18Jon Welsh LK 19Tim Swinson FL 20Ryan Wilson SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne CE 22Peter Horne WG 23Sean Lamont Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Lood de Jager (South Africa)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Alasdair Dickinson earned his 50th test cap for Scotland.
South Africa vs United States
FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Bryan Habana OC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de Allende LW 11Lwazi MvovoFH 10Handré Pollard SH 9 Fourie du Preez (c) N8 8 Duane VermeulenOF 7 Schalk Burger BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Lood de Jager LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Schalk Brits PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Coenie Oosthuizen LK 19Pieter-Steph du Toit FL 20Willem Alberts SH 21Rudy Paige FH 22Morné Steyn CE 23Jan Serfontein Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Blaine Scully RW 14Brett ThompsonOC 13Folau NiuaIC 12Andrew SuniulaLW 11Zack TestFH 10Shalom SuniulaSH 9 Niku KrugerN8 8 Samu Manoa (c) OF 7 John QuillBF 6 Danny Barrett RL 5 Matt Trouville LL 4 Louis StanfillTP 3 Chris BaumannHK 2 Phil Thiel LP 1 Olive Kilifi Replacements:PR 16Joe Taufete'e HK 17Zach Fenoglio PR 18Matekitonga Moeakiola PR 19Titi LamositeleLK 20Cam Dolan FL 21Alastair McFarland SH 22Mike PetriFB 23Chris Wyles Coach: Mike Tolkin Man of the Match: Damian de Allende (South Africa)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Rudy Paige made his international debut for South Africa. Joe Taufete'e made his international debut for the United States. Bryan Habana equaled Jonah Lomu's World Cup record of 15 tries scored in the tournament.
Samoa vs Scotland
FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Paul PerezOC 13George PisiIC 12Rey Lee-LoLW 11Fa'atoina Autagavaia FH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (c) N8 8 Alafoti FaosilivaOF 7 Jack LamBF 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu RL 5 Kane Thompson LL 4 Filo PauloTP 3 Census Johnston HK 2 Manu Leiataua LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Motu Matu'u PR 17Viliamu Afatia PR 18Anthony Perenise FL 19Faifili Levave N8 20Sanele Vavae Tuilagi SH 21Vavao Afemai FH 22Patrick Fa'apale WG 23Ken Pisi Coach: Stephen Betham FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Sean MaitlandOC 13Mark BennettIC 12Matt Scott LW 11Tommy SeymourFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)N8 8 David DentonOF 7 John HardieBF 6 Ryan Wilson RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 WP NelHK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Jon WelshLK 19Tim Swinson N8 20Josh Strauss SH 21Henry PyrgosCE 22Peter Horne WG 23Sean Lamont Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: John Hardie (Scotland)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Richie Gray earned his 50th test cap for Scotland. Sean Lamont became the second Scottish player to earn 100 caps for Scotland.
United States vs Japan