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]

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.