Pool C of the 2023 Rugby World Cup began on 9 September 2023 and concluded on 8 October 2023. The pool included two-times champions Australia, and automatic qualifiers Wales and Fiji. They were joined by Georgia (Europe 1) and Portugal (Final Qualifier Winner).

It is the fourth time in five Rugby World Cup tournament in which Australia, Wales and Fiji have been in the same group (2011 being the exception, where Wales and Fiji were still drawn together, and Wales faced Australia in the bronze medal match).

Teams Team Band Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Previous bestperformance World Rugby Rankings 1 January 2020 4 September 2023 C1 1 Europe Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 October 2019 10th 2019 Third place (1987) 4 10 C2 2 Oceania Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 October 2019 10th 2019 Winners (1991, 1999) 6 9 C3 3 Oceania Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 11 October 2019 9th 2019 Quarter-finals (1987, 2007) 11 7 C4 4 Europe Europe 1 10 March 2022 6th 2019 Pool stage (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) 14 11 C5 5 Europe Final Qualifier 18 November 2022 2nd 2007 Pool stage (2007) 24 16 Notes

Overview Pool C got underway with Australia facing Georgia, in which Australia came out victorious with a 35–15 win. Ben Donaldson earned himself two tries while also succeeding in 3 conversions and 3 penalties, earning him player of the match. The following day, Wales faced Fiji in a pulsating encounter which Wales edged in a scoreline of 32–26. Tries were scored at both ends, but Elliot Dee's converted try in the 66th minute turned out to be what sealed victory for the Welsh, despite a late attempt at a fightback from Fiji which included a try from Mesake Doge in the 78th minute which was not converted. Portugal, making their first Rugby World Cup appearance since 2007, began their campaign the following week against Wales. Despite a valiant effort from the Portuguese, Wales came out winners with a scoreline of 28–8, courtesy of four Welsh tries. Australia faced Fiji for their second match of the pool the following day, as Fiji came out shock winners with a 15–22 victory in Saint-Étienne, with Josua Tuisova scoring their only try of the match.

After a six day rest in the pool, action returned with Georgia facing Portugal in Toulouse. After trailing 13–0, Portugal staged a comeback with two tries from Raffaele Storti, before a late try from Tengiz Zamtaradze drew Georgia level and denied Portugal a famous first World Cup victory, with Nuno Sousa Guedes missing a last minute penalty for the Portuguese as the match finished with a scoreline of 18–18. On the following day, Wales took on Australia, in which Wales scoring a record breaking 40 points to Australia's 6, a result which saw Wales become the first team to officially progress to the knockout stage in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while leaving Australia in serious jeopardy of exiting the tournament at the pool stage for the first time in the Wallabies history.

The following weekend, on 30 September, Fiji and Georgia locked horns in Bordeaux with both sides still fighting to join Wales in the knockout stage. Despite trailing to first half penalties from Luka Matkava and Davit Niniashvili, Fiji fought back in the second half with tries from Waisea Nayacalevu and Vinaya Habosi to move to the brink of qualifying for the quarter-finals, while Georgia were confirmed elimination from the tournament despite Matkava's late penalty providing Georgia a losing bonus point. The next day, Australia played their last match of the pool against Portugal in a must win encounter for both sides in Saint-Étienne. In a physical match which saw three players sin-binned, the Australians came out victorious with a 34–14 scoreline, despite a valiant Portuguese effort. Five tries were scored by Australia, two not converted, to secure a bonus-point win and keep their faint hopes of progression to the knockout stage alive while officially knocking Portugal out of the tournament.

Ahead of the final matchweek in the pool, which Australia would not play, Fiji needed just a point from their match against Portugal to advance to the knockout stage alongside Wales and ahead of Australia. On 7 October, Wales played their final match of the pool against Georgia in which they came out with a 43–19 victory, courtesy of a hat-trick from Louis Rees-Zammit, to officially secure the Welsh top spot in Pool C. All that was left in Pool C was the final match the following day between Fiji and Portugal, to officially decide whether it would be Australia or Fiji who would finish second in the pool and join Wales in the knockout stage. With the exception of a few moments, Fiji started the game slowly and by halftime the scoreline was level at 3–3, with both teams having scored only a penalty each. By the 51st minute, Portugal looked to pull off a historic upset with Francisco Fernandes scoring a try, which converted, brought the scoreline to 10–17. In the 68th minute, a well-worked drive from Mesake Doge levelled the score at 17–17. Two converted penalties for Fiji within the space of four minutes looked to seal their place in the last-eight for them, however, in the final minute of the game, Rodrigo Marta ran in a last try. Samuel Marques would convert, bringing the final scoreline to 23–24, and marking Portugal's first ever victory in a World Cup tournament. Although Fiji lost the match, they were awarded a losing bonus-point as they lost the game within a margin of seven points, therefore putting them level with Australia on points in the standings. According to the tiebreaking criteria, advancement therefore went to the team with the better head-to-head record. Because Fiji had won against Australia, they went through to the knockout stage, and for the first time in their history, Australia was eliminated in the pool stages. Portugal finished in fourth, while Georgia took fifth.

Standings

Matches Australia vs Georgia

FB 15Ben DonaldsonRW 14Mark NawaqanitawaseOC 13Jordan Petaia IC 12Samu Kerevi LW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Carter GordonSH 9 Tate McDermott N8 8 Rob ValetiniOF 7 Fraser McReightBF 6 Tom HooperRL 5 Will Skelton (c) LL 4 Richie Arnold TP 3 Taniela Tupou HK 2 Dave Porecki LP 1 Angus Bell Replacements:HK 16Matt Faessler PR 17Blake Schoupp PR 18Zane Nonggorr FL 19Rob Leota FL 20Langi Gleeson SH 21Nic White CE 22Lalakai Foketi WG 23Suliasi Vunivalu Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Davit Niniashvili RW 14Aka TabutsadzeOC 13Demur TapladzeIC 12Merab Sharikadze (c)LW 11Mirian Modebadze FH 10Luka Matkava SH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Beka GorgadzeOF 7 Luka IvanishviliBF 6 Tornike Jalaghonia RL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Nodar CheishviliTP 3 Guram Papidze HK 2 Shalva Mamukashvili LP 1 Nika Abuladze Replacements:HK 16Tengiz Zamtaradze PR 17Guram Gogichashvili PR 18Beka Gigashvili LK 19Lasha Jaiani FL 20Giorgi Tsutskiridze SH 21Gela Aprasidze FH 22Tedo Abzhandadze CE 23Giorgi Kveseladze Coach: Levan Maisashvili Player of the Match: Ben Donaldson (Australia)

Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland) Notes: Taniela Tupou (Australia) earned his 50th test cap.

Wales vs Fiji

FB 15Liam WilliamsRW 14Louis Rees-ZammitOC 13George NorthIC 12Nick TompkinsLW 11Josh Adams FH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 Jac Morgan (c)BF 6 Aaron Wainwright RL 5 Adam Beard LL 4 Will RowlandsTP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ryan Elias LP 1 Gareth Thomas Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Corey Domachowski PR 18Dillon Lewis LK 19Dafydd Jenkins FL 20Tommy Reffell SH 21Tomos Williams FH 22Sam Costelow WG 23Rio Dyer Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Ilaisa Droasese RW 14Selestino RavutaumadaOC 13Waisea Nayacalevu (c)IC 12Semi RadradraLW 11Vinaya Habosi FH 10Teti TelaSH 9 Frank Lomani N8 8 Viliame MataOF 7 Lekima Tagitagivalu BF 6 Albert Tuisue RL 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta LL 4 Isoa NasilasilaTP 3 Luke Tagi HK 2 Sam Matavesi LP 1 Eroni Mawi Replacements:HK 16Tevita Ikanivere PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Mesake Doge LK 19Temo Mayanavanua FL 20Levani Botia SH 21Simione Kuruvoli CE 22Josua Tuisova CE 23Sireli Maqala Coach: Simon Raiwalui Player of the Match: Dan Biggar (Wales)

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Wales vs Portugal

FB 15Leigh Halfpenny RW 14Louis Rees-ZammitOC 13Mason GradyIC 12Johnny Williams LW 11Rio DyerFH 10Gareth Anscombe SH 9 Tomos Williams N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Jac MorganBF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Dafydd Jenkins LL 4 Christ TshiunzaTP 3 Dillon Lewis HK 2 Dewi Lake (c) LP 1 Nicky Smith Replacements:HK 16Ryan Elias PR 17Corey Domachowski PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Adam Beard FL 20Taine Basham SH 21Gareth Davies FH 22Sam Costelow WG 23Josh Adams Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Nuno Sousa Guedes RW 14Vincent Pinto OC 13José Lima IC 12Tomás Appleton (c)LW 11Rodrigo MartaFH 10Jerónimo PortelaSH 9 Samuel Marques N8 8 Rafael SimõesOF 7 Nicolas MartinsBF 6 João Granate RL 5 Steevy CerqueiraLL 4 Martim Belo TP 3 Anthony Alves HK 2 Mike Tadjer LP 1 Francisco Fernandes Replacements:HK 16Lionel Campergue PR 17David Costa PR 18Diogo Hasse Ferreira LK 19Thibault de Freitas FL 20David Wallis SH 21Pedro Lucas FH 22Joris Moura WG 23Raffaele Storti Coach: Patrice Lagisquet Player of the Match: Jac Morgan (Wales)

Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: This was the first ever meeting between these two nations at a World Cup. However, they did previously meet in a World Cup qualifying competition. Tomos Williams (Wales) earned his 50th test cap. Tommy Reffell (Wales) was originally named in the starting line-up, but withdrew during the match-day warm-up because of injury. He was replaced by Jac Morgan. José Madeira (Portugal) was originally named in the starting line-up, but withdrew the day before the match because of injury. He was replaced by Martim Belo, whose place on the bench was taken by Thibault de Freitas.

Australia vs Fiji

FB 15Ben DonaldsonRW 14Mark NawaqanitawaseOC 13Jordan PetaiaIC 12Samu Kerevi LW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Carter Gordon SH 9 Nic White N8 8 Rob ValetiniBF 7 Fraser McReight OF 6 Tom HooperRL 5 Richie Arnold LL 4 Nick FrostTP 3 James Slipper HK 2 Dave Porecki (c) LP 1 Angus Bell Replacements:HK 16Jordan Uelese PR 17Blake Schoupp PR 18Zane Nonggorr LK 19Matt Philip FL 20Rob Leota SH 21Issak Fines-Leleiwasa CE 22Lalakai Foketi WG 23Suliasi Vunivalu Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Ilaisa DroaseseRW 14Jiuta Wainiqolo OC 13Waisea Nayacalevu (c)IC 12Josua Tuisova LW 11Semi RadradraFH 10Teti TelaSH 9 Simione Kuruvoli N8 8 Viliame MataOF 7 Levani Botia BF 6 Lekima TagitagivaluRL 5 Te Ahiwaru CirikidavetaLL 4 Isoa Nasilasila TP 3 Luke Tagi HK 2 Sam Matavesi LP 1 Eroni Mawi Replacements:HK 16Tevita Ikanivere PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Mesake Doge LK 19Temo Mayanavanua FL 20Albert Tuisue SH 21Frank Lomani CE 22Vilimoni Botitu WG 23Vinaya Habosi Coach: Simon Raiwalui Player of the Match: Josua Tuisova (Fiji)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland) Notes: Captain Will Skelton was originally named at lock for Australia, but failed a fitness test prior to the match. He was replaced in the starting line-up by Richie Arnold, whose place on the bench was taken by Matt Philip. The Wallabies captaincy was handed over to Dave Porecki. This was Fiji's first victory over Australia at the Rugby World Cup, and their first since an 18–16 away win in 1954. This was Fiji's largest victory over Australia.

Georgia vs Portugal