Pool C of the 2019 Rugby World Cup began on 21 September 2019. The pool included previous World Cup hosts England and France, as well as the fourth-placed team from 2015, Argentina. They were joined by regional qualifiers from the Americas, United States (Americas 1), and Oceania, Tonga (Oceania 2), to become the first completed table ahead of the World Cup.
England and France both went unbeaten in their first three matches to guarantee qualification for the knockout stage, but their final match against each other was cancelled due to the effects of Typhoon Hagibis. England had earned a bonus point in all three of their matches, while France had just one, so England went through to the quarter-finals as pool winners. With bonus point victories against Tonga and the United States, Argentina claimed third place and the final automatic qualification spot for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while Tonga's win over the United States in the final pool match saw them finish fourth.
Overview Pool C's opening match saw Argentina come back from a 17-point half-time deficit against France at Tokyo Stadium, only for France's Camille Lopez to score a game-winning drop goal in the 70th minute. In Sapporo, two tries from Manu Tuilagi helped England to a bonus-point victory over Tonga. England followed that up with a 38-point victory over the United States, with Joe Cokanasiga scoring two tries in the victory; however, the match was soured by the first red card of the tournament, shown to the United States' John Quill for a shoulder charge to the head of England's Owen Farrell. Argentina bounced back from their defeat by France with a 28–12 victory over Tonga in Higashiōsaka; all of Argentina's scoring happened in the first 28 minutes, including a hat-trick from Julián Montoya as they raced to a 28-point lead before Tonga brought the margin back to 16 with two tries of their own. After Typhoon Mitag almost cancelled the match, the French were inconsistent with errors keeping the United States in the match before three late tries in the second half would secure a 33–9 win in Fukuoka.
In Chōfu, England qualified for the quarter-finals with a 39–10 victory over Argentina with Argentinean player Tomás Lavanini being shown a red card, which forced Argentina down to 14 men as he was forced off due to a high tackle on Owen Farrell's head. France would later join them in qualifying for the knockout stage with a two-point victory over Tonga at Kumamoto Stadium. After conceding the first 17 points of the match, Tonga came back into the match with tries from Sonatane Takulua and Mali Hingano to close the gap to only three points before Romain Ntamack gave the cushion that France needed with two penalties in eight minutes giving France the victory. Argentina would become the first team to finish their matches of the 2019 World Cup, with a 47–17 victory over the United States in Kumagaya. Joaquín Tuculet and Juan Cruz Mallia each scored two tries in the meeting, their first since 2003. After the England–France game was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis, Tonga ended their World Cup campaign with a 31–19 victory over the United States. This was due to the Tongan's using their opportunities with them converting into tries and despite the United States being within striking range with three minutes to go, Telusa Veainu converted the match-winning try and a bonus-point victory for Tonga. At the end of the pool stage, it was England winning the group with France finishing in second place.
Standings
Matches All times are local Japan Standard Time (UTC+09)
France vs Argentina
FB 15Maxime Médard RW 14Damian Penaud OC 13Virimi VakatawaIC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Yoann HugetFH 10Romain NtamackSH 9 Antoine Dupont N8 8 Gregory Alldritt OF 7 Charles OllivonBF 6 Wenceslas LauretRL 5 Sébastien VahaamahinaLL 4 Arthur Iturria TP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements:HK 16Camille Chat PR 17Cyril Baille PR 18Demba Bamba FL 19Bernard Le Roux N8 20Louis Picamoles SH 21Maxime Machenaud FH 22Camille Lopez FB 23Thomas Ramos Coach: Jacques Brunel FB 15Emiliano BoffelliRW 14Matías MoroniOC 13Matías OrlandoIC 12Jerónimo de la FuenteLW 11Ramiro Moyano FH 10Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Tomás CubelliN8 8 Javier Ortega Desio OF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo Matera (c)RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Agustín Creevy LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Mayco Vivas PR 18Santiago Medrano LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Tomás Lezana SH 21Felipe EzcurraFH 22Benjamín Urdapilleta FB 23Santiago Carreras Coach: Mario Ledesma Player of the Match: Gaël Fickou (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Guido Petti (Argentina) earned his 50th test cap.
England vs Tonga
FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Manu TuilagiIC 12Owen Farrell (c)LW 11Jonny May FH 10George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Sam Underhill BF 6 Tom CurryRL 5 Maro ItojeLL 4 Courtney Lawes TP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Dan Cole LK 19George Kruis FL 20Lewis Ludlam SH 21Willi Heinz CE 22Henry Slade CE 23Jonathan Joseph Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15David HalaifonuaRW 14Atieli Pakalani OC 13Siale Piutau (c)IC 12Cooper VunaLW 11Viliami LoloheaFH 10Kurt Morath SH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Maama Vaipulu OF 7 Zane KapeliBF 6 Sione KalamafoniRL 5 Leva Fifita LL 4 Sam LousiTP 3 Ben Tameifuna HK 2 Sosefo Sakalia LP 1 Siegfried Fisiihoi Replacements:HK 16Siua Maile PR 17Latu Talakai PR 18Maʻafu Fia FL 19Daniel Faleafa FL 20Nasi Manu SH 21Leon Fukofuka FH 22James Faiva CE 23Nafi Tuitavake Coach: Toutai Kefu Player of the Match: Manu Tuilagi (England)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France) Shuhei Kubo (Japan) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
England vs United States
FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Ruaridh McConnochie OC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Piers Francis LW 11Joe CokanasigaFH 10George Ford (c)SH 9 Willi Heinz N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Lewis LudlamBF 6 Tom CurryRL 5 George KruisLL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Jack Singleton PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Kyle Sinckler LK 19Courtney Lawes FL 20Mark Wilson SH 21Ben Youngs FH 22Owen Farrell WG 23Anthony Watson Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Will Hooley RW 14Blaine Scully (c)OC 13Marcel BracheIC 12Paul Lasike LW 11Martin Iosefo FH 10AJ MacGintySH 9 Shaun Davies N8 8 Cam DolanOF 7 John Quill BF 6 Tony Lamborn RL 5 Nick Civetta LL 4 Ben LandryTP 3 Titi Lamositele HK 2 Joe Taufete'e LP 1 David Ainuu Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Olive Kilifi PR 18Paul Mullen LK 19Greg Peterson FL 20Hanco Germishuys SH 21Ruben de Haas CE 22Bryce Campbell FB 23Mike Te'o Coach: Gary Gold Player of the Match: George Ford (England)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Argentina vs Tonga
FB 15Emiliano BoffelliRW 14Matías MoroniOC 13Matías Orlando IC 12Jerónimo de la FuenteLW 11Santiago CarrerasFH 10Benjamín Urdapilleta SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Tomás LezanaOF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo Matera (c) RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Julián Montoya LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Agustín Creevy PR 17Mayco Vivas PR 18Santiago Medrano LK 19Matías Alemanno N8 20Javier Ortega Desio SH 21Felipe Ezcurra FH 22Nicolás Sánchez WG 23Bautista Delguy Coach: Mario Ledesma FB 15Telusa Veainu RW 14Viliami Lolohea OC 13Mali HinganoIC 12Siale Piutau (c) LW 11David HalaifonuaFH 10James FaivaSH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Maama VaipuluOF 7 Zane Kapeli BF 6 Sione Kalamafoni RL 5 Leva FifitaLL 4 Sam LousiTP 3 Ben Tameifuna HK 2 Paul Ngauamo LP 1 Siegfried Fisiihoi Replacements:HK 16Sosefo Sakalia PR 17Vunipola Fifita PR 18Maʻafu Fia LK 19Steve Mafi FL 20Nasi Manu SH 21Leon Fukofuka FH 22Latiume Fosita WG 23Cooper Vuna Coach: Toutai Kefu Player of the Match: Julián Montoya (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Agustín Creevy levelled Argentina's most capped player record, set by Felipe Contepomi with 87 caps.
France vs United States
FB 15Thomas Ramos RW 14Alivereti RakaOC 13Sofiane Guitoune IC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Yoann HugetFH 10Camille LopezSH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Louis Picamoles (c)OF 7 Yacouba CamaraBF 6 Arthur Iturria RL 5 Paul Gabrillagues LL 4 Bernard Le RouxTP 3 Emerick Setiano HK 2 Camille Chat LP 1 Cyril Baille Replacements:HK 16Guilhem Guirado PR 17Jefferson Poirot PR 18Rabah Slimani LK 19Sébastien Vahaamahina FL 20Grégory Alldritt SH 21Baptiste Serin FH 22Romain Ntamack FB 23Maxime Médard Coach: Jacques Brunel FB 15Mike Te'oRW 14Blaine Scully (c)OC 13Marcel BracheIC 12Bryce CampbellLW 11Martin Iosefo FH 10AJ MacGinty SH 9 Shaun Davies N8 8 Cam DolanOF 7 Hanco GermishuysBF 6 Tony Lamborn RL 5 Nick CivettaLL 4 Nate Brakeley TP 3 Titi Lamositele HK 2 Joe Taufete'e LP 1 Eric Fry Replacements:HK 16Dylan Fawsitt PR 17Olive Kilifi PR 18Paul Mullen LK 19Greg Peterson FL 20Ben Pinkelman SH 21Ruben de Haas FH 22Will Magie CE 23Thretton Palamo Coach: Gary Gold Player of the Match: Camille Lopez (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) Shuhei Kubo (Japan) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Gaël Fickou (France) earned his 50th test cap.
England vs Argentina
FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Anthony Watson OC 13Manu TuilagiIC 12Owen Farrell (c)LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Sam UnderhillBF 6 Tom CurryRL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Dan Cole LK 19Courtney Lawes FL 20Lewis Ludlam SH 21Willi Heinz CE 22Henry Slade WG 23Jack Nowell Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Emiliano BoffelliRW 14Matías MoroniOC 13Matías Orlando IC 12Jerónimo de la FuenteLW 11Santiago CarrerasFH 10Benjamín Urdapilleta SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Javier Ortega Desio OF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo Matera (c)RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Julián Montoya LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Agustín Creevy PR 17Mayco Vivas PR 18Santiago Medrano LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Tomás Lezana SH 21Felipe Ezcurra CE 22Lucas Mensa WG 23Bautista Delguy Coach: Mario Ledesma Player of the Match: Sam Underhill (England)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Andrew Brace (Ireland) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Agustín Creevy became the most capped player for Argentina with 88 caps, surpassing Felipe Contepomi's record of 87. Tomás Lavanini's red card was a record fifth for a World Cup, surpassing the four given out in 1995 and 1999. With this loss for Argentina and France's win on the 6 October, Argentina fail to advance through to the knock-out stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2003. Angus Gardner was due to be part of the officiating team for this game, but swapped with Ben O'Keeffe's appointment between Japan and Samoa.
France vs Tonga