Pool A of the 2019 Rugby World Cup began on 20 September 2019. The pool included hosts Japan, and previous 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists Ireland and Scotland. They were joined by the European qualifier, Russia, and Samoa, the winner of the European-Oceania Cross-Regional play-off.
Japan won all four of their matches, including surprise victories over both Ireland and Scotland, to finish top of the pool and become the first Asian nation to reach a Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Ireland picked up a bonus point in each of their matches, and their victory over Scotland in their opening pool match proved the difference between the two sides in the hunt for second place. Samoa finished in fourth place, their only win coming against bottom-placed Russia.
Overview The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup was played in Pool A with Japan scoring a 30–10 win over Russia. Kotaro Matsushima became the first Japanese player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. For the Russian side, Kirill Golosnitsky scored the first try of the tournament after four minutes – the fastest try ever scored in the opening match of a World Cup. Two days later, Ireland defeated Scotland 27–3. On 24 September, Samoa played their first match against Russia in Kumagaya. Despite Samoa's being reduced to 13 men after Rey Lee-Lo and Motu Matu'u were sin-binned within two minutes of each other, Russia could not capitalise on their advantage and Samoa went on to win 34–9. Four days later, hosts Japan defeated Ireland 19–12, scoring four out of six penalties. While it was an upset win for Japan, World Rugby later admitted three of the four offside penalties were incorrectly awarded to Japan. Kenki Fukuoka scored a try in the 58th minute to give Japan a two-point lead after Ireland's Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney had scored the opening two tries. Yu Tamura's conversion and fourth successful penalty kick sealed the result for Japan. Scotland recorded their first victory of the World Cup with a 34–0 whitewash victory over Samoa in muggy conditions in Kobe, with Samoan captain Jack Lam stating that the rugby ball was "a bar of soap."
Three days later, Kobe Misaki Stadium held another match in Pool A – this time it was Ireland, who would whitewash their opponents (Russia) in a 35–0 victory with five different players getting tries for the Irish. The Irish though, did not have everything go right with Jordi Murphy being subbed off in the 27th minute due to a possible rib injury, which added to the Irish back row pain after losing Jack Conan earlier in the tournament. Japan recorded their third victory over Samoa in Toyota with a 85th minute try from Kotaro Matsushima sealing the Japanese a 38–19 bonus point victory. Russia in the final match of the tournament was hammered by Scotland 61–0 with George Horne scoring a hat-trick as the Scots became the first team in World Cup history to not concede a point from two World Cup matches. A red card to Bundee Aki in the 29th minute forced Ireland to go down to 14 men but that was the only blemish with Ireland winning 47–5 over Samoa in Fukuoka. Johnny Sexton scoring two tries for the Irish. Typhoon Hagibis saw the Japan–Scotland match under threat with the Scottish Rugby Union demanding legal action if it was cancelled. But after an inspection deemed the match to go ahead, Japan held their nerve against a fast-finishing Scotland to take home a 28–21 victory with Kenki Fukuoka scoring two tries. The win saw Japan become the first Tier 2 team to qualify since 2007, as they topped the group while Ireland finished in second place.
Standings
Matches All times are local Japan Standard Time (UTC+09)
Japan vs Russia
FB 15Will Tupou RW 14Kotaro MatsushimaOC 13Timothy LafaeleIC 12Ryoto NakamuraLW 11Lomano LemekiFH 10Yu Tamura SH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Kazuki HimenoOF 7 Lappies LabuschagnéBF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 James MooreLL 4 Wimpie van der Walt TP 3 Asaeli Ai Valu HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Atsushi Sakate PR 17Isileli Nakajima PR 18Koo Ji-won LK 19Luke Thompson FL 20Hendrik Tui SH 21Fumiaki Tanaka FH 22Rikiya Matsuda FB 23Ryohei Yamanaka Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15Vasily Artemyev (c)RW 14German DavydovOC 13Vladimir OstroushkoIC 12Dmitry Gerasimov LW 11Kirill GolosnitskyFH 10Yuri Kushnarev SH 9 Vasily Dorofeev N8 8 Nikita VavilinOF 7 Tagir GadzhievBF 6 Vitaly Zhivatov RL 5 Bogdan Fedotko LL 4 Andrei OstrikovTP 3 Kirill Gotovtsev HK 2 Stanislav Sel'skiy LP 1 Valery Morozov Replacements:HK 16Evgeny Matveev PR 17Andrei Polivalov PR 18Azamat Bitiev LK 19Andrey Garbuzov FL 20Anton Sychev SH 21Dmitry Perov FH 22Ramil Gaisin WG 23Vladislav Sozonov Coach: Lyn Jones Player of the Match: Kotaro Matsushima (Japan)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Matthew Carley (England) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: This was the first Rugby World Cup opener not to feature a Tier 1 nation. Kotaro Matsushima (Japan) became the first Japanese player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup, and the first player to score one in a Rugby World Cup opener. Russia's try was the fastest to be scored in an opening match of a Rugby World Cup.
Ireland vs Scotland
FB 15Jordan LarmourRW 14Andrew ConwayOC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Bundee Aki LW 11Jacob StockdaleFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James RyanLL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rory Best (c)LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Niall Scannell PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Andrew Porter LK 19Tadhg Beirne FL 20Jack Conan SH 21Luke McGrath FH 22Jack Carty CE 23Chris Farrell Coach: Joe Schmidt FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Tommy Seymour OC 13Duncan Taylor IC 12Sam JohnsonLW 11Sean MaitlandFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Greig Laidlaw N8 8 Ryan WilsonOF 7 Hamish Watson BF 6 John Barclay RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 Grant GilchristTP 3 WP Nel HK 2 Stuart McInally (c)LP 1 Allan Dell Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Simon Berghan LK 19Scott Cummings FL 20Blade Thomson SH 21Ali Price CE 22Chris Harris WG 23Darcy Graham Coach: Gregor Townsend Player of the Match: CJ Stander (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Alexandre Ruiz (France) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: This was the first meeting between the two nations at a neutral venue.
Russia vs Samoa
FB 15Vasily Artemyev (c)RW 14German DavydovOC 13Vladimir OstroushkoIC 12Dmitry Gerasimov LW 11Kirill GolosnitskyFH 10Yuri Kushnarev SH 9 Vasily Dorofeev N8 8 Nikita Vavilin OF 7 Tagir GadzhievBF 6 Vitaly ZhivatovRL 5 Bogdan FedotkoLL 4 Andrei Ostrikov TP 3 Kirill Gotovtsev HK 2 Stanislav Sel'skiy LP 1 Valery Morozov Replacements:HK 16Evgeny Matveev PR 17Andrey Polivalov PR 18Azamat Bitiev LK 19Andrey Garbuzov FL 20Anton Sychev SH 21Dmitry Perov FH 22Ramil Gaisin WG 23Vladislav Sozonov Coach: Lyn Jones FB 15Tim Nanai-Williams RW 14Alapati LeiuaOC 13Rey Lee-Lo IC 12Henry TaefuLW 11Ed FidowFH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Dwayne Polataivao N8 8 Afa Amosa OF 7 TJ IoaneBF 6 Chris Vui (c)RL 5 Kane Le'aupepeLL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa HK 2 Motu Matu'u LP 1 Logovi'i Mulipola Replacements:HK 16Ray Niuia PR 17Paul Alo-Emile PR 18Jordan Lay LK 19Senio Toleafoa LK 20Josh Tyrell SH 21Melani Matavao FH 22AJ Alatimu FH 23UJ Seuteni Coach: Steve Jackson Player of the Match: Alapati Leiua (Samoa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: This was the first meeting between the two nations. Ahsee Tuala was due to start the game, but was replaced with Henry Taefu following injury ahead of kick off.
Japan vs Ireland
FB 15Ryohei Yamanaka RW 14Kotaro MatsushimaOC 13Timothy LafaeleIC 12Ryoto NakamuraLW 11Lomano LemekiFH 10Yu TamuraSH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Amanaki Mafi OF 7 Lappies Labuschagné (c)BF 6 Kazuki HimenoRL 5 James MooreLL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 Shota HorieLP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Atsushi SakatePR 17Isileli Nakajima PR 18Asaeli Ai Valu LK 19Wimpie van der Walt FL 20Michael Leitch SH 21Fumiaki Tanaka FH 22Rikiya MatsudaWG 23Kenki Fukuoka Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15Rob Kearney RW 14Keith EarlsOC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Chris Farrell LW 11Jacob StockdaleFH 10Jack Carty SH 9 Conor MurrayN8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Josh van der FlierBF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James RyanLL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rory Best (c) LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Andrew Porter LK 19Tadhg Beirne FL 20Rhys Ruddock SH 21Luke McGrath FH 22Joey Carbery FB 23Jordan Larmour Coach: Joe Schmidt Player of the Match: Shota Horie (Japan)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France) Matthew Carley (England) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Will Tupou was due to start the game, but was replaced by Lomano Lemeki due to injury ahead of kick off. Iain Henderson (Ireland) earned his 50th test cap. This is Japan's first victory over Ireland. This is Ireland's first Rugby World Cup pool stage loss since losing 30–15 to Argentina during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This is Ireland's first loss to a Tier 2 nation since losing 40–25 to Samoa in 1996. This is the first time that Ireland has failed to score any points in the second half of a match since their match against France in the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
Scotland vs Samoa
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Darcy GrahamOC 13Chris HarrisIC 12Sam Johnson LW 11Sean MaitlandFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw N8 8 Blade ThomsonOF 7 Jamie RitchieBF 6 Magnus Bradbury RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Grant Gilchrist TP 3 WP Nel HK 2 Stuart McInally (c) LP 1 Allan Dell Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Zander Fagerson LK 19Scott Cummings N8 20Ryan Wilson SH 21George Horne FH 22Adam Hastings CE 23Duncan Taylor Coach: Gregor Townsend FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Belgium Tuatagaloa OC 13Alapati LeiuaIC 12Henry TaefuLW 11Ed Fidow FH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Melani Matavao N8 8 Jack Lam (c) OF 7 TJ Ioane BF 6 Chris VuiRL 5 Kane Le'aupepeLL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa HK 2 Ray Niuia LP 1 Logovi'i Mulipola Replacements:HK 16Seilala Lam PR 17Paul Alo-Emile PR 18Jordan Lay FL 19Piula Fa'asalele LK 20Josh Tyrell SH 21Pele Cowley FH 22UJ Seuteni CE 23Kieron Fonotia Coach: Steve Jackson Player of the Match: Jonny Gray (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: This is the first time since beating Italy 29–0 in 2017 that Scotland have kept their opponents scoreless, and the first time ever against Samoa. The last time they did so at a Rugby World Cup was in 2007, when they beat Romania 42–0. This is the first time that Samoa has failed to score any points in a Rugby World Cup match.
Ireland vs Russia
FB 15Rob Kearney RW 14Andrew ConwayOC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Bundee AkiLW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Luke McGrathN8 8 Jordi Murphy OF 7 Peter O'MahonyBF 6 Rhys RuddockRL 5 Jean Kleyn LL 4 Tadhg BeirneTP 3 John Ryan HK 2 Niall Scannell LP 1 Dave Kilcoyne Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Andrew Porter PR 18Tadhg Furlong LK 19Iain Henderson N8 20CJ Stander SH 21Conor MurrayFH 22Jack Carty FB 23Jordan Larmour Coach: Joe Schmidt FB 15Vasily Artemyev (c)RW 14German DavydovOC 13Igor GalinovskiyIC 12Kirill Golosnitsky LW 11Denis Simplikevich FH 10Ramil GaisinSH 9 Dmitry PerovN8 8 Victor GresevOF 7 Tagir GadzhievBF 6 Anton Sychev RL 5 Bogdan Fedotko LL 4 Andrey Garbuzov TP 3 Kirill Gotovtsev HK 2 Evgeny Matveev LP 1 Andrey Polivalov Replacements:HK 16Stanislav Sel'skiy PR 17Valery Morozov PR 18Vladimir Podrezov LK 19Andrei Ostrikov LK 20Evgeny Elgin FH 21Sergey Yanyushkin FL 22Roman Khodin CE 23Vladimir Ostroushko Coach: Lyn Jones Player of the Match: Rhys Ruddock (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Igor Galinovskiy (Russia) earned his 50th test cap.
Japan vs Samoa