Rugby Union World Cup 2007 / Group A
The Group A of the 2007 Rugby World Cup included the reigning world champions England , Samoa , South Africa , Tonga and the United States . The group matches took place between September 8th and 30th.
table
| country | Games | Victories | Unent. | Ndlg. | Game points |
Diff. | Bonus points |
Table points |
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| 1. |
 South Africa
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4th | 4th | 0 | 0 | 189: 47 | +142 | 3 | 19th |
| 2. |
 England
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4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 108: 88 | +20 | 2 | 14th |
| 3. |
 Tonga
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4th | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89: 96 | −7 | 1 | 9 |
| 4th |
 Samoa
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4th | 1 | 0 | 3 | 69: 143 | −74 | 1 | 5 |
| 5. |
 United States
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4th | 0 | 0 | 4th | 61: 142 | −81 | 1 | 1 |
Games
England - USA
| September 8, 2007 6:00 p.m. |
England
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28:10 |
United States
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Stade Félix-Bollaert , Lens Spectators: 36,755 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan ( South Africa ) |
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Attempts: Robinson 35th n.erh. Barkley 40th increased Rees 49th increased increases: Barkley (2/3) Penalty kicks: Barkley (3/3) 7th, 22nd, 31st |
(21: 3) Report |
Attempts: Moeakiola 74. Increments : Hercus (1/1) Penalty kicks: Hercus (1/1) 9. |
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The reigning world champion England struggled for a long time in his opening game against the Americans. Up to the 20th minute of the game, the North Americans held a 3-3 draw and even had a great chance to increase to 10-3 with an attempt, but were stopped shortly before the in-goal. Only the yellow card against the American Vahafolau Esikia ten minutes before half-time and the associated ten-minute reduction to 14 players let the English pull away to 21: 3. In the second half, the Americans continued their game and continued to challenge the English, who ultimately won with 28:10.
Following the game, the American Paul Emerick was suspended for five weeks after a dangerous attack against the Englishman Olly Barkley .
South Africa - Samoa
| September 9, 2007 4:00 p.m. |
South Africa
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59: 7 |
Samoa
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Parc des Princes , Paris Spectators: 46,575 Referee: Paul Honiss ( New Zealand ) |
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Attempts: Habana (4) 33rd, 56th, 66th, 76th Montgomery (2) 40th received, 53rd received Fourie 47th increased Pietersen 80th increased increases: Montgomery (5/8) Penalty kicks: Montgomery (3/3) 3rd, 10th, 15th |
(21: 7) Report |
Attempts: Williams 18th increments: Williams (1/1) |
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The South Africans had far fewer problems in their game against the island state of Samao than the English the day before. The Samoans were able to keep a close 7: 9 until the 33rd minute of the game, but then the offensive of the Springboks (South Africa) overran the defensive of the Samoans, especially South Africa's Bryan Habana, who made four attempts. In the end, South Africa clearly won 59-7, with Percy Montgomery scoring the most points.
USA - Tonga
| September 12, 2007 2:00 p.m. |
United States
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15:25 |
Tonga
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Stade de la Mosson , Montpellier Spectators: 25,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson ( Australia ) |
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Attempts: MacDonald 47th after. Stanfill 67th incremental increases: Hercus (1/2) Penalty kicks: Hercus (1/2) 33. |
(3:13) Report |
Attempts: Maka 2nd received Vaka 59th post Vaki 70th incremental increases: Hola (2/3) Penalty kicks: Hola (2/2) 7th, 26th |
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The USA and Tonga offered a varied game. After the Tongans had taken a 13-0 lead in the course of the first half, the Americans shortened to 10:13 shortly after the half-time break with an attempt by Mike MacDonald . Then the game rippled on for about 15 minutes before Tonga could increase the score again. Another valid attempt by the Eagles (USA) at 15:18 in the meantime was countered by the islanders from the South Pacific and won with 25:15.
England - South Africa
| September 14, 2007 9:00 p.m. |
England
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0:36 |
South Africa
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Stade de France , Saint-Denis Spectators: 77,523 Referee: Joël Jutge ( France ) |
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| (0:20) report |
Attempts: Smith 6th raised Pietersen (2) 38th raised, 64th raised increases: Montgomery (3/3) Penalty kicks: Steyn (1/1) 11th Montgomery (4/4) 36th, 46th, 55th, 79th |
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The reigning world champion England suffered a significant defeat in what is probably the most famous clash of the World Cup preliminary round against the Springboks from South Africa. South Africa had taken a 10-0 lead early in the game through an attempt with a valid raise and a penalty kick. They expanded this lead to 20-0 by half-time. The picture was the same in the second round. The South Africans continued to expand their lead over the course of the game, while the English despaired of the South African defensive despite the best chances. South Africa won in the end with 36-0.
Samoa - Tonga
| September 16, 2007 4:00 p.m. |
Samoa
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15:19 |
Tonga
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Stade de la Mosson , Montpellier Spectators: 24,128 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan ( South Africa ) |
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Penalty kicks: Williams (5/6) 6th, 21st, 23rd, 29th, 69th |
(12: 6) Report |
Attempts: Taione 60th increments: Hola (1/1) Penalty kicks: Hola (4/5) 3rd, 38th, 47th, 67th |
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Samoa and Tonga fought a defensive battle in the first encounter between two South Pacific islands as part of a world championship. After both teams had converted a penalty early on, the Samoans moved to 12: 3 with three more penalty kicks, before Tonga was able to shorten it again shortly before the break, also with a penalty kick. In the second round, the Tongans turned the game around within 13 minutes and took the lead with 16:12. Another penalty kick brought an interim 19:12 lead, which the Samoans promptly shortened to 15:19. They could not avert the defeat in the last five minutes of the game despite the double majority, due to a yellow and red card each against Tonga. Tonga ended a series of defeats of nine games against the neighboring island nation by winning. The red card against Tonga's Hale T-Pole was the first in the course of the tournament.
South Africa - Tonga
| September 22, 2007 2:00 p.m. |
South Africa
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30:25 |
Tonga
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Stade Félix-Bollaert , Lens Spectators: 40,069 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England ) |
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Attempts: Pienaar (2) 18th received, 65th received Smith 59th received Skinstad 62nd received Elevations: Pretorius (1/1) Montgemery (1/3) Penalty kicks : Steyn (1/1) 54. Montgemery (1/1) 76. |
(7: 3) Report |
Attempts: Pulu 44th received Hufanga 70th received Vilaki 72. increased increases: Hola (2/3) Penalty kicks: Hola (2/3) 9., 78. |
South Africa and Tonga fought an unexpectedly close and tough battle. After a first half with few points, at the end of which the South Africans led 7-3, a varied second round followed. With an attempt by Tonga's Pierre Hola in the 44th minute of the game, they took the lead 10: 7 for the first time in the game, to everyone's great surprise. After that, events rolled over when within 13 minutes five attempts, three of which by the South Africans, were placed and the referee dealt three yellow cards. In the end, Tonga missed the sensation, but secured a bonus point with the narrow 25:30 defeat.
England - Samoa
| September 22, 2007 4:00 p.m. |
England
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44:22 |
Samoa
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Stade de la Beaujoire , Nantes Spectators: 37,022 Referee: Alan Lewis ( Ireland ) |
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Attempts: Corry (2) 2nd received, 76th received Sackey (2) 32nd received, 80th received Raise: Wilkinson (3/4) Penalty: Wilkinson (4/6) 15th, 22nd, 33rd, 72nd Dropgoals: Wilkinson (2/3) 6th, 69th |
(23:12) Report |
Attempts: Polu 47th increments: Crichton (1/1) Penalty kicks: Crichton (5/5) 9th, 12th, 38th, 40th, 42nd |
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The English had hardly any problems in their third preliminary round game against Samoa, which plagued major injury concerns. Martin Corry , Jonny Wilkinson and Paul Sackey set the course for victory early on in the first half of the game. However, the Samoans kept up with the accurate Loki Crichton . At the beginning of the second half of the game, the Pacific Islanders took advantage of a small phase of weakness in the English and shortened to 26:22. As a result, however, the defending champion used his physical superiority and won clearly with 44:22.
Samoa - USA
| September 26, 2007 8:00 p.m. |
Samoa
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25:21 |
United States
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Stade Geoffroy-Guichard , Saint-Étienne Spectators: 34,124 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( England ) |
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Attempts: Fa'atau 5th after. Tuilagi 9th increased Thompson 37th increased increases: Crichton (2/3) Penalty kicks: Crichton (2/2) 30., 72. |
(22: 3) Report |
Attempts: Ngwenya 53rd received Stanfill 79th received Elevations: Hercus (1/2) Penalty kicks: Hercus (3/4) 32nd, 65th, 75th |
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In the game of the two teams from Samoa and the United States, which had already been eliminated, the Samoans secured their first victory in the course of the tournament. With a lightning start with two attempts in the first ten minutes of the game, they took the lead, while the Americans found it difficult to get into the game. Another attempt by Samoa shortly before halftime meant the 22-3 lead at halftime. The second half turned the previous course of the game on its head, as the USA found their way into the game better and reduced the deficit to 22:13 15 minutes before the end of the game. A converted penalty kick on both sides increased the result to 25:16, before the Eagles made the connection at 25:21 a minute before the end of the game and earned at least one bonus point.
England - Tonga
| September 28, 2007 9:00 p.m. |
England
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36:20 |
Tonga
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Parc des Princes , Paris Spectators: 45,085 Referee: Alain Rolland ( Ireland ) |
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Attempts: Sackey (2) 20th n.erh., 38th n.erh. Tait 57th raised Farrell 66th raised raises: Wilkinson (2/4) Penalty kicks: Wilkinson (2/3) 14th, 36th Dropgoals: Wilkinson (2/2) 32nd, 72nd |
(19:10) Report |
Attempts: Hufanga 17th raised pole 80th raised elevations: Hola (2/2) Penalty kicks: Hola (2/2) 10th, 55th |
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In the decisive game for the quarter-finals, England prevailed against Tonga. After an early period of pressure from the Tongans, who were in the lead with a penalty kick and an attempt to raise up to the 32nd minute of the game, Jonny Wilkinson put the defending champion in front for the first time with a drop goal . Paul Sackey's second attempt just before the break brought the result to 19:10. Ten minutes after the break, Tonga was able to cut back to 13:19 and thus kept his chances. As a result, however, the English played their class and won with 36:20.
South Africa - USA
| September 30, 2007 8:00 p.m. |
South Africa
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64:15 |
United States
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Stade de la Mosson , Montpellier Spectators: 28,750 Referee: Tony Spreadbury ( England ) |
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Attempts: Burger 10th received Steyn 28th received Habana (2) 35th received, 42nd received van der Linde 48th received du Preez 54th received Fourie (2) 64th received, 73rd received Smith 77th received increases: Montgomery (6/7) James (2/2) Penalty kicks: Montgomery (1 / 1) 17th |
(21:10) Report |
Attempts: Ngwenya 39th received Wyles 51st received Elevations: Hercus (1/2) Penalty kicks: Hercus (1/1) 20. |
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Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ rugbyworldcup.com, USA's Paul Emerick suspended for five weeks ( memento of the original from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ rugbyworldcup.com, Decision of Judicial Officer ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 66 kB)
