Pool C of the 2015 Rugby World Cup began on 19 September and was completed on 11 October 2015. The pool was composed of New Zealand (the title holders), Argentina and Tongawho all qualified automatically for the tournament due to finishing in the top three positions in their pools in 2011along with the top European qualifier, Georgia, and the top African qualifier, Namibia.
After winning the first three of their matches, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. After Tonga loss to New Zealand in their last Pool Match, Argentina became the second team from Pool C to qualify for the quarter-finals. New Zealand eventually went on to win Rugby World Cup 2015, beating Australia 34 - 17 in the final.
Standings
Matches All times are local United Kingdom time (UTC+01)
Tonga vs Georgia
FB 15Vunga LiloRW 14Telusa VeainuOC 13William Helu IC 12Siale PiutauLW 11Fetuʻu VainikoloFH 10Kurt MorathSH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Viliami MaʻafuOF 7 Nili Latu (c) BF 6 Sione KalamafoniRL 5 Steve Mafi LL 4 Tukulua LokotuiTP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Tevita Mailau Replacements:HK 16Paul Ngauamo PR 17Sona Taumalolo PR 18Sila Puafisi FL 19Hale T-Pole FL 20Jack Ram SH 21Samisoni FisilauFH 22Latiume FositaCE 23Sione Piukala Coach: Mana Otai FB 15Merab Kvirikashvili RW 14Tamaz MchedlidzeOC 13Davit KacharavaIC 12Merab SharikadzeLW 11Giorgi AptsiauriFH 10Lasha MalaghuradzeSH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c)OF 7 Viktor KolelishviliBF 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili RL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Giorgi NemsadzeTP 3 Davit Zirakashvili HK 2 Jaba Bregvadze LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Shalva Mamukashvili PR 17Karlen Asieshvili PR 18Levan Chilachava LK 19Levan Datunashvili FL 20Shalva Sutiashvili SH 21Giorgi Begadze WG 22Giorgi PruidzeWG 23Muraz GiorgadzeCoach: Milton Haig Man of the Match: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Fetuʻu Vainikolo surpassed Josh Taumalolo's record of 14 tries for his country, to become Tonga's record try scorer. Merab Kvirikashvili surpassed Irakli Abuseridze's record of 85 caps for his country, to become Georgia's most capped player. Vasil Lobzhanidze, at 18 years and 340 days, became the youngest ever player to appear in a World Cup match. Shalva Sutiashvili earned his 50th test cap for Georgia.
New Zealand vs Argentina
FB 15Ben SmithRW 14Nehe Milner-Skudder OC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Ma'a Nonu LW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Wyatt Crockett PR 18Charlie Faumuina N8 19Victor Vito FL 20Sam Cane SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Beauden Barrett CE 23Sonny Bill Williams Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Joaquín Tuculet RW 14Santiago CorderoOC 13Marcelo BoschIC 12Juan Martín HernándezLW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Leonardo Senatore OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Tomás LavaniniLL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos AyerzaReplacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Lucas Noguera Paz PR 18Ramiro Herrera LK 19Mariano Galarza FL 20Juan Manuel Leguizamón SH 21Martín Landajo CE 22Jerónimo de la Fuente FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade Man of the Match: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: The 89,019 crowd, surpassed the tournament's biggest crowd for a match, set in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final, of 82,957. New Zealand fielded the most experienced ever starting fifteen in international history. This marks the first time, New Zealand failed to win with a bonus point in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, ever since they were introduced.
New Zealand vs Namibia
FB 15Colin Slade RW 14Nehe Milner-SkudderOC 13Malakai FekitoaIC 12Sonny Bill Williams LW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 TJ Perenara N8 8 Victor VitoOF 7 Sam Cane (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 Luke RomanoTP 3 Charlie Faumuina HK 2 Codie TaylorLP 1 Ben FranksReplacements:HK 16Keven MealamuPR 17Wyatt Crockett PR 18Tony WoodcockN8 19Kieran Read FL 20Richie McCaw SH 21Tawera Kerr-Barlow CE 22Ma'a Nonu FB 23Ben Smith Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Johann TrompRW 14David Philander OC 13JC GreylingIC 12Johan DeyselLW 11Conrad Marais FH 10Theuns KotzéSH 9 Eugene Jantjies N8 8 Leneve Damens OF 7 Tinus du Plessis BF 6 Jacques Burger (c) RL 5 Tjiuee UaniviLL 4 PJ van Lill TP 3 Aranos Coetzee HK 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld LP 1 Jaco Engels Replacements:HK 16Louis van der Westhuizen PR 17Casper Viviers PR 18Raoul Larson FL 19Renaldo Bothma LK 20Janco Venter FL 21Rohan Kitshoff SH 22Eniell Buitendag FB 23Chrysander Botha Coach: Phil Davies Man of the Match: Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: This was the first ever match between these nations. Richie McCaw became the most capped New Zealander player at a Rugby World Cup, surpassing Sean Fitzpatrick's record of 17.
Argentina vs Georgia
FB 15Joaquín TuculetRW 14Santiago CorderoOC 13Marcelo BoschIC 12Juan Martín Hernández LW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Facundo IsaOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe BF 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón RL 5 Tomás LavaniniLL 4 Matías AlemannoTP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Lucas Noguera Paz PR 18Ramiro Herrera FL 19Javier Ortega Desio FL 20Pablo Matera SH 21Martín Landajo CE 22Jerónimo de la Fuente FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade FB 15Merab Kvirikashvili RW 14Tamaz Mchedlidze OC 13Davit KacharavaIC 12Merab SharikadzeLW 11Giorgi AptsiauriFH 10Lasha MalaghuradzeSH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) OF 7 Viktor Kolelishvili BF 6 Giorgi TkhilaishviliRL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Giorgi NemsadzeTP 3 Davit Zirakashvili HK 2 Jaba Bregvadze LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Shalva Mamukashvili PR 17Kakha Asieshvili PR 18Levan Chilachava LK 19Levan Datunashvili FL 20Shalva Sutiashvili SH 21Giorgi Begadze WG 22Giorgi Pruidze WG 23Muraz Giorgadze Coach: Milton Haig Man of the Match: Santiago Cordero (Argentina)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Tonga vs Namibia
FB 15Vunga Lilo RW 14David HalaifonuaOC 13Siale Piutau (c) IC 12Sione PiukalaLW 11Telusa VeainuFH 10Latiume FositaSH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Viliami Maʻafu (c)OF 7 Jack RamBF 6 Sione Kalamafoni RL 5 Joe TuineauLL 4 Hale T-Pole TP 3 Sila Puafisi HK 2 Aleki Lutui LP 1 Soane Tongaʻuiha Replacements:HK 16Paul Ngauamo PR 17Tevita Mailau PR 18Halani Aulika LK 19Tukulua Lokotui N8 20Opeti Fonua SH 21Samisoni Fisilau FH 22Kurt Morath WG 23William Helu Coach: Mana Otai FB 15Chrysander BothaRW 14Johann Tromp OC 13Danie van WykIC 12Johan Deysel LW 11Russell van WykFH 10Theuns KotzéSH 9 Eniell Buitendag N8 8 Renaldo Bothma OF 7 Rohan KitshoffBF 6 Jacques Burger (c)RL 5 Tjiuee UaniviLL 4 Janco Venter TP 3 Aranos Coetzee HK 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld LP 1 Casper Viviers Replacements:HK 16Louis van der Westhuizen PR 17Johnny Redelinghuys PR 18AJ de Klerk FL 19Tinus du Plessis N8 20PJ van Lill CE 21Darryl de la Harpe SH 22Damian Stevens WG 23David Philander Coach: Phil Davies Man of the Match: Jack Ram (Tonga)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Tonga became the first team to name two captains in a Rugby World Cup match. The 3 tries scored by Namibia were the most scored by the team in a World Cup match. The 35 points scored by Tonga is the highest ever score it has posted in a Rugby World Cup game. Kurt Morath surpassed Pierre Hola's record of 317 points for his country to become Tonga's highest-ever point scorer.
New Zealand vs Georgia
FB 15Ben SmithRW 14Waisake Naholo OC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Sonny Bill Williams LW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Jerome KainoRL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Charlie Faumuina HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Wyatt Crockett Replacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Tony Woodcock PR 18Owen Franks N8 19Victor Vito FL 20Sam Cane SH 21Tawera Kerr-Barlow SH 22TJ PerenaraCE 23Malakai Fekitoa Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Beka TsiklauriRW 14Giorgi AptsiauriOC 13Davit KacharavaIC 12Tamaz Mchedlidze LW 11Alexander Todua FH 10Lasha MalaghuradzeSH 9 Giorgi Begadze N8 8 Lasha Lomidze OF 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (c) BF 6 Shalva SutiashviliRL 5 Giorgi ChkhaidzeLL 4 Levan DatunashviliTP 3 Levan Chilachava HK 2 Shalva Mamukashvili LP 1 Kakha Asieshvili Replacements:HK 16Simon Maisuradze PR 17Mikheil Nariashvili PR 18Anton Peikrishvili LK 19Konstantin Mikautadze FL 20Viktor Kolelishvili SH 21Vasil Lobzhanidze CE 22Merab Sharikadze WG 23Muraz Giorgadze Coach: Milton Haig Man of the Match: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)
Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: This was the first ever match between these nations.
Argentina vs Tonga
FB 15Joaquín TuculetRW 14Santiago CorderoOC 13Matías Moroni IC 12Jerónimo de la FuenteLW 11Juan Imhoff FH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Leonardo Senatore OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Pablo MateraRL 5 Tomás LavaniniLL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Ramiro Herrera HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Lucas Noguera Paz PR 18Juan Pablo Orlandi LK 19Matías Alemanno N8 20Facundo Isa SH 21Tomás Cubelli FH 22Santiago González Iglesias WG 23Horacio Agulla Coach: Daniel Hourcade FB 15Vunga Lilo RW 14Telusa VeainuOC 13Siale PiutauIC 12Sione Piukala LW 11Fetuʻu VainikoloFH 10Kurt MorathSH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Viliami Maʻafu OF 7 Nili Latu (c)BF 6 Sione KalamafoniRL 5 Joe Tuineau LL 4 Tukulua LokotuiTP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Soane Tongaʻuiha Replacements:HK 16Aleki Lutui PR 17Sona Taumalolo PR 18Sila Puafisi LK 19Steve Mafi N8 20Opeti Fonua SH 21Samisoni Fisilau FH 22Latiume Fosita WG 23David Halaifonua Coach: Mana Otai Man of the Match: Nicolás Sánchez (Argentina)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes This was the first ever match between these nations.
Namibia vs Georgia
FB 15Chrysander BothaRW 14David Philander OC 13Danie van Wyk IC 12Darryl de la Harpe LW 11Russell van WykFH 10Theuns KotzéSH 9 Eugene Jantjies N8 8 Renaldo Bothma OF 7 Tinus du Plessis BF 6 Jacques Burger (c) RL 5 Tjiuee UaniviLL 4 PJ van Lill TP 3 Raoul Larson HK 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld LP 1 Johnny Redelinghuys Replacements:HK 16Louis van der Westhuizen PR 17Jaco Engels PR 18Aranos Coetzee FL 19Wian Conradie FL 20Rohan Kitshoff FB 21Johann Tromp SH 22Damian Stevens WG 23Heinrich Smit Coach: Phil Davies FB 15Merab Kvirikashvili RW 14Tamaz Mchedlidze OC 13Davit KacharavaIC 12Merab SharikadzeLW 11Alexander ToduaFH 10Lasha MalaghuradzeSH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (c)OF 7 Viktor Kolelishvili BF 6 Giorgi TkhilaishviliRL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Giorgi NemsadzeTP 3 Davit ZirakashviliHK 2 Jaba Bregvadze LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Shalva Mamukashvili PR 17Kakha Asieshvili PR 18Anton PeikrishviliLK 19Levan Datunashvili N8 20Lasha Lomidze SH 21Giorgi Begadze WG 22Giorgi Aptsiauri FB 23Beka Tsiklauri Coach: Milton Haig Man of the Match: Tinus du Plessis (Namibia)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Alexander Todua earned his 50th test cap for Georgia.