PARIS, 30 September – Pool C played host to tournament favourites New Zealand but they were far from being the only star turn, with newcomers Portugal rousing crowds with their passion for the game.
Scotland and Italy, meanwhile, provided a nail-biting finish to the group, the Scots grabbing the second quarter-final position with a two-point win.
NEW ZEALAND
It would be hard to look beyond Doug Howlett, the wing having written his name into the history books as the All Blacks record try scorer with six in his three matches, surpassing the benchmark of 46 scored by full back Christian Cullen.
Howlett equalled the record with a hat-trick against Italy and then broke it with a brace against Scotland and added another against Romania, taking him to 13 tries in 10 RWC matches, putting him only two behind leading try scorer Jonah Lomu's 15 across the 1995 and 1999 tournaments.
SCOTLAND
Rory Lamont enjoyed a RWC debut to remember with two tries in the opening 15 minutes of the Scots' opening match against Portugal, the full back looking lively and dangerous on the attack against the tournament newcomers.
The younger Lamont brother in Scotland's squad grabbed another brace against Romania to be his nation's leading try scorer with one more than flanker Allister Hogg, who scored a hat-trick in the 42-0 win against the Oaks.
However, Scotland have the kicking of Chris Paterson to thank for their quarter-final berth, with the sharpshooter yet to miss a shot on goal.
ITALY
Veteran scrum half Alessandro Troncon won his 100th cap against Portugal and was a tower of strength in the defeat by Scotland. Andrea Masi looked lively in the centre, scoring two tries in the 31-5 defeat of Portugal in Paris.
Forwards Mauro Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse again outlined their importance to the Azzurri by playing in all of their matches.
ROMANIA
Captain and second row Sorin Socol led by example in his second world cup, his emergence from the bench against Portugal, along with that of match-winning try scorer Marius Tincu, proving decisive in overturning a half-time deficit.
Centre Romeo Gontineac became the first Romanian to play in four rugby world cups.
PORTUGAL
The RWC newcomers won many admirers with their performances and return home as national heroes despite losing all four matches, although Pedro Carvalho had the honour of scoring his country's first try at this level.
Carvalho was denied a second try when referee Steve Walsh cut short his celebrations by ruling him offside when he intercepted a loose Scotland pass, but the wing still had his "treasure" to cherish for the rest of his life.
Gonçalo Malheiro is also guaranteed his place in RWC 2007 history, the fly half having kicked the first drop goal of the tournament in Portugal's 108-13 defeat by New Zealand – a first ever meeting between the nations.
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