2021 Rugby World Cup Pool C

Pool C of the 2021 Rugby World Cup began on 8 October 2022 with France taking on South Africa at Eden Park. The pool includes two-time champions England and France, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 2017.^[1] They are joined by South Africa, who qualified as champions of the 2021 Rugby Africa Women's Cup,^[2] and by debutants Fiji, who qualified for the tournament with their win over Samoa.^[3]

Standings

Key to colours in pool tables v t e
	Advanced to the quarter-finals as one of the top two teams in a pool
	Advanced to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third place teams

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts
1	England	3	3	0	172	26	+146	28	2	14
2	France	3	2	1	91	18	+73	14	3	11
3	Fiji	3	1	2	40	145	−105	6	0	4
4	South Africa	3	0	3	22	136	−114	3	1	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

All times are local New Zealand Daylight Time (UTC+13)

South Africa vs France

8 October 2022
14:15 NZDT (UTC+13)

South Africa	5–40	France (1 BP)
Try: Mabenge 50' m	Report	Try: Sansus (2) 2' c, 67' c Vernier 11' m Boulard 17' c Drouin 70' c Grisez 80+1' c Con: Drouin (2/3) 3', 18' Queyroi (3/3) 68', 71', 80+2'

Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 34,235^[a]
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)

Team details



FB	15	Nadine Roos
RW	14	Nomawethu Mabenge
OC	13	Zintle Mpupha
IC	12	Aphiwe Ngwevu
LW	11	Simamkele Namba		61'
FH	10	Libbie Janse van Rensburg		25'
SH	9	Tayla Kinsey		50'
N8	8	Aseza Hele
OF	7	Sinazo Mcatshulwa		58'
BF	6	Sizophila Solontsi	50'	60'
RL	5	Rights Mkhari		62'
LL	4	Nolusindiso Booi (c)
TP	3	Babalwa Latsha
HK	2	Lindelwa Gwala		68'
LP	1	Sanelisiwe Charlie		61'
Replacements:
HK	16	Roseline Botes		68'
PR	17	Asithandile Ntoyanto		61'
PR	18	Monica Mazibukwana
LK	19	Catha Jacobs		62'
FL	20	Lusanda Dumke		60'
SH	21	Unam Tose		50'
FH	22	Zenay Jordaan		25'
FB	23	Eloise Webb		61'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer


FB	15	Chloé Jacquet	73'
RW	14	Joanna Grisez
OC	13	Maëlle Filopon
IC	12	Gabrielle Vernier	62'
LW	11	Émilie Boulard
FH	10	Caroline Drouin
SH	9	Laure Sansus	70'
N8	8	Romane Ménager	70'
OF	7	Marjorie Mayans	73'
BF	6	Charlotte Escudero
RL	5	Madoussou Fall
LL	4	Céline Ferer (c)
TP	3	Clara Joyeux	73'
HK	2	Laure Touyé	54'
LP	1	Annaëlle Deshayes	55'
Replacements:
HK	16	Agathe Sochat	54'
PR	17	Coco Lindelauf	55'
PR	18	Assia Khalfaoui	73'
LK	19	Manaé Feleu	70'
FL	20	Émeline Gros	73'
SH	21	Pauline Bourdon	70'
FH	22	Lina Queyroi	62'
WG	23	Mélissande Llorens	73'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq

Player of the Match:
Laure Sansus (France)

Touch judges:
Sara Cox (England)^[4]
Kat Roche (United States)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

Joanna Grisez (France) made her international debut.

Fiji vs England

8 October 2022
16:45 NZDT (UTC+13)

Fiji	19–84	England (1 BP)
Try: Nakoci 31' c Donu 40' c Cavuru 80+1' m Con: Cavuru (2/3) 32', 43'	Report	Try: MacDonald (4) 5' m, 56' m, 70' m, 76' c Cokayne (2) 18' m, 42' m Ward 27' c Rowland 38' c Aldcroft 45' c Thompson (2) 50' c, 53' m Dow 59' c Infante 65' m Powell 74' c Con: Scarratt (5/9) 28', 39', 46', 51', 60' Harrison (2/5) 75', 78'

Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 34,235^[b]
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)

Team details



FB	15	Roela Radiniyavuni
RW	14	Aloesi Nakoci
OC	13	Raijieli Laqeretabua		51'
IC	12	Sesenieli Donu
LW	11	Vitalina Naikore
FH	10	Merewalesi Rokouono		54'
SH	9	Lavena Cavuru
N8	8	Karalaini Naisewa		65'
OF	7	Ema Adivitaloga		51'
BF	6	Sulita Waisega
RL	5	Sereima Leweniqila (c)	38'
LL	4	Asinate Serevi		54'
TP	3	Vuanimasei Rasolea		51'
HK	2	Vika Matarugu		62'
LP	1	Iris Verebalavu		51'
Replacements:
HK	16	Bitila Tawake		62'
PR	17	Bulou Vasuturaga		51'
PR	18	Mereoni Namositava		51'
LK	19	Merevesi Ofakimalino		54'
FL	20	Raijieli Daveua		51'
SH	21	Akosita Ravato		65'
FH	22	Ana Maria Roqica		54'
CE	23	Melaia Matanatabu		51'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula


FB	15	Ellie Kildunne
RW	14	Lydia Thompson	57'
OC	13	Emily Scarratt	57'
IC	12	Helena Rowland
LW	11	Claudia MacDonald
FH	10	Zoe Harrison
SH	9	Leanne Infante	65'
N8	8	Sarah Hunter (c)	57'
OF	7	Sadia Kabeya
BF	6	Alex Matthews
RL	5	Abbie Ward
LL	4	Zoe Aldcroft
TP	3	Sarah Bern	51'
HK	2	Amy Cokayne	62'
LP	1	Victoria Cornborough	51'
Replacements:
HK	16	Connie Powell	62'
PR	17	Hannah Botterman	51'
PR	18	Maud Muir	51'
LK	19	Catherine O'Donnell	54'
FL	20	Poppy Cleall	57'
SH	21	Lucy Packer	65'
CE	22	Holly Aitchison	57'
WG	23	Abigail Dow	57'
Coach:
Simon Middleton

Player of the Match:
Sadia Kabeya (England)

Touch judges:
Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official:
Chris Assmus (Canada)

Notes:

This was the first meeting between the two nations.
This was Fiji's first World Cup game.
England's 84 points was the highest number of points they have scored in a World Cup game, surpassing the 82 points they scored against Kazakhstan in 2010.

France vs England

15 October 2022
20:00 NZDT (UTC+13)

(1 BP) France	7–13	England
Try: Hermet 64' c Con: Drouin (1/1) 65'	Report	Try: Scarratt 25' c Con: Scarratt (1/1) 26' Pen: Scarratt (2/2) 40', 62'

Northland Events Centre, Whangārei
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Team details



FB	15	Chloé Jacquet	65'
RW	14	Joanna Grisez
OC	13	Maëlle Filopon
IC	12	Gabrielle Vernier	78'
LW	11	Émilie Boulard
FH	10	Caroline Drouin
SH	9	Laure Sansus	13'
N8	8	Romane Ménager	17'
OF	7	Marjorie Mayans	71'
BF	6	Charlotte Escudero
RL	5	Madoussou Fall
LL	4	Céline Ferer (c)
TP	3	Clara Joyeux	72'
HK	2	Agathe Sochat	65'
LP	1	Annaëlle Deshayes	48'
Replacements:
HK	16	Laure Touyé	65'
PR	17	Coco Lindelauf	48'
PR	18	Assia Khalfaoui	72'
LK	19	Safi N'Diaye	71'
FL	20	Gaëlle Hermet	17'
SH	21	Pauline Bourdon	13'
CE	22	Lina Queyroi	78'
WG	23	Marine Ménager	65'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq


FB	15	Ellie Kildunne
RW	14	Lydia Thompson	61'
OC	13	Emily Scarratt
IC	12	Helena Rowland
LW	11	Claudia MacDonald
FH	10	Zoe Harrison
SH	9	Leanne Infante
N8	8	Sarah Hunter (c)	56'
OF	7	Marlie Packer	66'
BF	6	Alex Matthews
RL	5	Abbie Ward
LL	4	Zoe Aldcroft
TP	3	Sarah Bern	66'
HK	2	Amy Cokayne
LP	1	Victoria Cornborough	56'
Replacements:
HK	16	Connie Powell
PR	17	Hannah Botterman	56'
PR	18	Maud Muir	66'
LK	19	Catherine O'Donnell	66'
FL	20	Poppy Cleall	56'
SH	21	Lucy Packer
CE	22	Holly Aitchison
WG	23	Abigail Dow	61'
Coach:
Simon Middleton

Player of the Match:
Alex Matthews (England)

Assistant referees:
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Kat Roche (United States)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

Sarah Hunter earned her 137th test cap, equalling Rochelle Clark's record for most caps for England and most caps for a female player.
Marjorie Mayans (France) earned her 50th test cap.
This was France's first defeat in the pool stage since losing 27–8 to England in 2006.

Fiji vs South Africa

16 October 2022
17:45 NZDT (UTC+13)

Fiji	21–17	South Africa (1 BP)
Try: Delaiwau 13' c Sokoiwasa 40' c Naisewa 79' c Con: Cavuru (3/3) 14', 41', 80+1'	Report	Try: Mpupha 36' c Hele 59' c Con: Janse van Rensburg (2/2) 37', 60' Pen: Janse van Rensburg (1/1) 79'

Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)

Team details



FB	15	Roela Radiniyavuni		61'
RW	14	Akanisi Sokoiwasa	49'
OC	13	Talei Wilson		64'
IC	12	Sesenieli Donu
LW	11	Ilisapeci Delaiwau		60'
FH	10	Merewalesi Rokouono		60'
SH	9	Lavena Cavuru
N8	8	Karalaini Naisewa
OF	7	Raijieli Daveua
BF	6	Sulita Waisega		47'
RL	5	Merevesi Ofakimalino
LL	4	Asinate Serevi (c)
TP	3	Vuanimasei Rasolea
HK	2	Vika Matarugu		63'
LP	1	Iris Verebalavu		61'
Replacements:
HK	16	Bitila Tawake		62'
PR	17	Bulou Vasuturaga		61'
PR	18	Mereoni Namositava
LK	19	Joma Rubuti
FL	20	Ema Adivitaloga		47'
SH	21	Kolora Lomani		60'
FH	22	Ana Maria Roqica		60'
CE	23	Timaima Ravisa		64'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula


FB	15	Nadine Roos
RW	14	Nomawethu Mabenge	9'
OC	13	Zintle Mpupha
IC	12	Aphiwe Ngwevu		49'
LW	11	Simamkele Namba		40'
FH	10	Libbie Janse van Rensburg
SH	9	Tayla Kinsey		31'
N8	8	Aseza Hele
OF	7	Sinazo Mcatshulwa
BF	6	Sizophila Solontsi		48'
RL	5	Rights Mkhari		53'
LL	4	Nolusindiso Booi (c)
TP	3	Babalwa Latsha		72'
HK	2	Lindelwa Gwala		40'
LP	1	Sanelisiwe Charlie		53'
Replacements:
HK	16	Roseline Botes		40'
PR	17	Asithandile Ntoyanto		53'
PR	18	Monica Mazibukwana		72'
LK	19	Lerato Makua		53'
FL	20	Lusanda Dumke		48'
SH	21	Unam Tose		31'
FH	22	Zenay Jordaan		49'
FB	23	Eloise Webb		40'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer

Player of the Match:
Vuanimasei Rasolea (Fiji)

Assistant referees:
Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Doriane Domenjo (France)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)

Notes:

This was the first meeting between the two nations.
Zenay Jordaan earned her 35th test cap, surpassing Zandile Nojoko as the most capped South African female.

France vs Fiji

22 October 2022
18:15 NZDT (UTC+13)

(1 BP) France	44–0	Fiji
Try: M. Ménager 8' m Llorens 28' c Filopon (2) 40' m, 57' m Gros 63' c Boulard 72' m Domain 80' c Con: Trémoulière (3/6) 29', 64', 80+1' Pen: Trémoulière (1/1) 20'	Report

Northland Events Centre, Whangārei
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)

Team details



FB	15	Émilie Boulard
RW	14	Mélissande Llorens
OC	13	Maëlle Filopon	65'
IC	12	Caroline Drouin	58'
LW	11	Marine Ménager
FH	10	Jessy Trémoulière
SH	9	Pauline Bourdon	62'
N8	8	Émeline Gros
OF	7	Julie Annery
BF	6	Gaëlle Hermet (c)
RL	5	Safi N'Diaye	74'
LL	4	Céline Ferer	47'
TP	3	Assia Khalfaoui	58'
HK	2	Laure Touyé	58'
LP	1	Coco Lindelauf	58'
Replacements:
HK	16	Célia Domain	58'
PR	17	Yllana Brosseau	58'
PR	18	Rose Bernadou	58'
LK	19	Manaé Feleu	47'
FL	20	Charlotte Escudero	74'
SH	21	Alexandra Chambon	62'
CE	22	Lina Queyroi	65'
FB	23	Chloé Jacquet	58'
Coach:
Thomas Darracq


FB	15	Roela Radiniyavuni	23' 79'
RW	14	Raijieli Laqeretabua		48'
OC	13	Melaia Matanatabu		45'
IC	12	Sesenieli Donu		60'
LW	11	Vitalina Naikore
FH	10	Kolora Lomani
SH	9	Ana Maria Roqica		29'
N8	8	Sereima Leweniqila
OF	7	Karalaini Naisewa
BF	6	Raijieli Daveua		45'
RL	5	Merevesi Ofakimalino		56'
LL	4	Asinate Serevi (c)
TP	3	Siteri Rasolea
HK	2	Vika Matarugu		58'
LP	1	Iris Verebalavu		58'
Replacements:
HK	16	Bitila Tawake		58'
PR	17	Mereoni Vonosere		58'
PR	18	Bulou Vasuturaga		60'
LK	19	Sulita Waisega		56'
FL	20	Ema Adivitaloga		45'
SH	21	Lavena Cavuru		29'
FH	22	Rusila Nagasau		48'
CE	23	Talei Wilson		45'
Coach:
Senirusi Seruvakula

Player of the Match:
Pauline Bourdon (France)

Assistant referees:
Julianne Zussman (Canada)
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official:
Chris Assmus (Canada)

Notes:

This was the first meeting between the two nations.

England vs South Africa

23 October 2022
17:45 NZDT (UTC+13)

(1 BP) England	75–0	South Africa
Try: Galligan (3) 6' m, 29' m, 53' m P. Cleall (2) 23' c, 59' m Brown 32' c Powell (3) 36' m, 41' c, 69' m M. Packer 51' c Kabeya (2) 62' m, 78' c Dow 64' m Con: Harrison (4/8) 24', 33', 42', 51' Rowland (1/1) 78'	Report

Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)

Team details



FB	15	Sarah McKenna		70'
RW	14	Abigail Dow
OC	13	Holly Aitchison
IC	12	Tatyana Heard
LW	11	Jessica Breach
FH	10	Zoe Harrison		54'
SH	9	Lucy Packer		68'
N8	8	Poppy Cleall
OF	7	Marlie Packer (c)		68'
BF	6	Morwenna Talling
RL	5	Catherine O'Donnell		50'
LL	4	Rosie Galligan
TP	3	Shaunagh Brown		70'
HK	2	Connie Powell		70'
LP	1	Hannah Botterman		50'
Replacements:
HK	16	Amy Cokayne		70'
PR	17	Maud Muir		50'
PR	18	Sarah Bern	80'	70'
LK	19	Zoe Aldcroft		68'
FL	20	Sadia Kabeya		50'
SH	21	Leanne Infante		68'
FH	22	Helena Rowland		70'
FB	23	Ellie Kildunne		54'
Coach:
Simon Middleton


FB	15	Eloise Webb
RW	14	Nomawethu Mabenge		57'
OC	13	Simamkele Namba
IC	12	Chumisa Qawe
LW	11	Nadine Roos
FH	10	Zenay Jordaan		63'
SH	9	Tayla Kinsey		46'
N8	8	Aseza Hele
OF	7	Lerato Makua
BF	6	Lusanda Dumke
RL	5	Catha Jacobs	14'
LL	4	Nolusindiso Booi (c)	32'	63'
TP	3	Babalwa Latsha		72'
HK	2	Lindelwa Gwala		63'
LP	1	Sanelisiwe Charlie		55'
Replacements:
HK	16	Micke Gunter		63'
PR	17	Yonela Ngxingolo		55'
PR	18	Azisa Mkiva		72'
LK	19	Nompumelelo Mathe		63'
FL	20	Sizophila Solontsi		46'
SH	21	Rumandi Potgieter
FH	22	Jakke Cilliers		57'
FB	23	Chuma Qawe		63'
Coach:
Stanley Raubenheimer

Player of the Match:
Tatyana Heard (England)

Assistant referees:
Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Tyler Miller (Australia)
Television match official:
Lee Jeffrey (New Zealand)

Notes:

England became the first women's side to play 300 test matches.
Marlie Packer captained England for the first time.
Victoria Cornborough and Emily Scarratt were initially named on the England bench at 17 and 22, but withdrew due to injury. Maud Muir was demoted to the bench from tighthead and Shaunagh Brown was added to the starting team, while Ellie Kildunne, replaced Scarratt, pushing Helena Rowland to 22.

Notes

^ The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches
^ The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches

References

^ "NZ beat England to win World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ world.rugby. "RWC 2021 Spotlight: South Africa ｜ Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ women.rugby. "Fiji qualify for Rugby World Cup 2021 | Women in Rugby | women.rugby". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ worldrugby.org. "Match Officials Appointments | World Rugby". www.worldrugby.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[4] The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches

[6] The total attendance was 34,235, which was recorded for all 3 matches

[1] "NZ beat England to win World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[2] world.rugby. "RWC 2021 Spotlight: South Africa ｜ Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[3] women.rugby. "Fiji qualify for Rugby World Cup 2021 | Women in Rugby | women.rugby". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[5] worldrugby.org. "Match Officials Appointments | World Rugby". www.worldrugby.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

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