Rugby World Cup 2019: Full preview of Pool C
Only two Argentina, England and France will progress while Tonga have pulled off upsets at previous World Cups. There are no guarantees in Pool C.
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Pool C — England, Argentina, France, Tonga, USA
What to expect: The closest thing to the Pool of Death. England should top the group but missed the quarters four years ago so can’t take anything for granted. Semi-finalists in 2015, the Pumas should finish second but France have always been unpredictable at World Cups and have a long history of big upsets so can’t be ignored with a bunch of promising youngsters coming through.
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Match Dates: (AEST until Oct 6 when it becomes AEDT)
Saturday, September 21
FRANCE v ARGENTINA: 5.15pm at Tokyo Stadium
Sunday, September 22
ENGLAND v TONGA: 8.15pm at Sapporo Dome
Thursday, September 26
ENGLAND v USA: 8.45pm at Kobe Misaki Stadium
Saturday, September 28
ARGENTINA v TONGA: 2.45pm at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka
Wednesday, October 2
FRANCE v USA: 5.45pm at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Saturday, October 5
ENGLAND v ARGENTINA: 6pm at Tokyo Stadium
Sunday, October 6
FRANCE v TONGA: 6.45pm at Kumamoto Stadium
Wednesday, October 9
ARGENTINA v USA: 3.45pm at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Saturday, October 12
ENGLAND v FRANCE: 7.15pm at International Stadium, Yokohama
Sunday, October 13
USA v TONGA: 4.45pm at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka
COMPLETE POOL BY POOL PREVIEWS
POOL A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia
POOL B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, Namibia
POOL C: England, Argentina, France, Tonga, USA
POOL D: Australia, Wales, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay
England
Best Finish: Champions (2003)
Captain: Owen Farrell
Coach: Eddie Jones
Betting: $5.75 to win the tournament, $1.30 to win the pool
History: Broke Australian hearts to beat the Wallabies in the 2003 final after Jonny Wilkinson’s extra time field goal. Knocked the Wallabies out in the 1995 and 2007 quarterfinals but lost the 1991 final to Australia and the 2007 decider to South Africa.
Player to watch: Maro Itoje. Has been a sensation at lock since Eddie Jones awarded him his first Test cap in 2016. Still only 24, he’s become the enforcer England have desperately missed since Martin Johnston retired.
Forwards: Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Mark Wilson.
Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Piers Francis, Willi Heinz, Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May, Ruaridh McConnochie, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.
Our prediction: 1st in group
Argentina:
Best Finish: 3rd (2007)
Captain: Pablo Matera
Coach: Mario Ledesma
Betting: $51 to win the tournament, $7.50 to win the pool
History: The biggest improvers since rugby turned professional. Never made it past the pool phase in the amateur days but have only missed the knockout rounds once since 1995 and made the semis twice in the last three World Cups.
Player to watch: Nicolas Sanchez. Argentina’s all-time leading point scorer and the leading point scorer, from all nations, at the 2015 World Cup. Calls all the team’s shots from five-eighth.
Forwards: Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo, Mayco Vivas, Agustin Creevy, Julian Montoya, Santiago Socino, Juan Figallo, Santiago Medrano, Enrique Pieretto, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
Backs: Tomas Cubelli, Felipe Ezcurra, Nicolas Sanchez, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Lucan Mensa, Juan Cruz Mallia, Ramiro Moyano, Bautista Delguy, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquin Tuculet.
Our prediction: 2nd
France:
Best Finish: Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011)
Captain: Guilhem Guirado
Coach: Jacques Brunel
Betting: $34 to win the tournament, $5.50 to win the pool
History: The World Cup’s giant killers. Upset the Wallabies in a classic semi to make the inaugural final, stunned the All Blacks to make the 1999 decider and recovered from losing pool games to make the 2011 final but have yet to lift the trophy.
Player to watch: Romain Ntamack. Highly promising five-eighth who is the youngest member of the French squad, aged just 20. He was part of the French squad that won the Under 20s World Cup in 2018 and made his Test debut this year. His father Emile Ntamack played for France in the 1999 World Cup final against the Wallabies.
Forwards: Guilhem Guirado (capt), Gregory Alldritt, Cyril Baille, Demba Bamba, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Paul Gabrillagues, Arthur Iturria, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Peato Mauvaka, Charles Ollivon, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Emerick Setiano, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina.
Backs: Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Sofiane Guitoune, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Virimi Vakatawa.
Our prediction: 3rd
Tonga:
Best Finish: Pool stage
Captain: Siala Piutau
Coach: Toutai Kefu
Betting: $2,500 to win the tournament, $1,001 to win the pool
History: The weakest of the Pacific Island nations, Tonga have never made it past the pool stage. Their most famous win was beating France at the 2011 World Cup, only to miss out on the quarters.
Player to watch: Telusa Veaniu. Elusive fullback or winger who has been a star player for Leicester in the English Premiership, winning a stack of individual awards including the RPA Players’ Player of the Year in 2018. Born In New Zealand, he’s scored five tries in nine Test appearances for Tonga, including two tries at the last World Cup.
Forwards: Siegfried ‘Fisiihoi, Vunipola Fifita, Latu ‘Talakai, Paula ‘Ngauamo, Sosefo ‘Sakalia, Siua Maile, Siua ‘Halanukonuka, Ma’afu Fia, Ben Tameifuna, Sam Lousi, Leva Fifita, Sitiveni Mafi, Sione Kalamafoni, Maama ‘Vaipulu, Fotu ‘Lokotui, Zane ‘Kapeli, Dan Faleafa, Nasi Manu
Backs: Sonatane Takulua, Leon ‘Fukofuka, Samisoni Fisilau, Kurt Morath, James ‘Faiva, Siale Piutau (capt), Malietoa Hingano, Nafi Tuitavake, Atieli Pakalani, David Halaifonua, Viliami Lolohea, Cooper Vuna, Telusa Veainu
Our prediction: 4th
USA:
Best Finish: Pool stage
Captain: Blaine Scully
Coach: Gary Gold
Betting: $2,500 to win the tournament, $501 to win the pool
History: The Eagles have only won three matches — two against Japan and one against Russia — in seven previous appearances at the World Cup. With the focus now on Sevens, the United States’ biggest claim to fame in the 15-man game was winning the gold medal at the 1924 Olympics.
Player to watch: Joe Taufete’e. Former American footballer, who has made a big impact since switching to rugby. A hooker, now based in England, he holds the world record for the most Test tries by any tight-five player after bagging a mind boggling 20 tries from just 22 international appearances.
Forwards: David Ainu’u, Malon Al-Jiboori, Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, Cam Dolan, Dylan Fawsitt, Eric Fry, Hanco Germishuys, James Hilterbrand, Olive Kilifi, Tony Lamborn, Titi Lamositele, Ben Landry, Paul Mullen, Gregor Peterson, Ben Pinkelman, John Quill, Joseph Taufete’e
Backs: Blaine Scully, Nate Augspurger, Marcel Brache, Bryce Campbell, Shaun Davies, Ruben De Haas, Will Hooley, Martin Iosefo, Paul Lasike, AJ MacGinty, Will Magie, Thretton Palamo, Mike Te’o
Our prediction: 5th