RWC 2015: Pool D profile

With the line-up for Rugby World Cup 2015 now complete, we complete our series of pool-by-pool guides with a look at Pool D. 

Pool D has a distinctly familiar feel with three of the Six Nations sides, Ireland, France and Italy, all set to come up against one another in England next year. Joining the trio in Pool D are Romania and Canada, who both maintained their ever-present record at the tournament by successfully making it through the regional qualification process. Indeed, Pool D is the only pool containing sides who have been at every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament began in 1987.

While Ireland and Italy are well-known to Les Bleus followers through the Six Nations, Romania and Canada have strong and obvious links to France. Just under a quarter of the Canadian population are reputed to use French as their mother tongue, and a large number of Romania’s side that qualified as Europe 2, after finishing second in the European Nations Cup Division 1A, ply their trade in the Top 14 French Championship.

France have never lost to any of their four Pool D opponents at a Rugby World Cup, beating Ireland and Canada three times apiece and Romania twice. Surprisingly they have never faced Italy at a Rugby World Cup before. Their consistency at Rugby World Cups is remarkable. Only once, at RWC 1991, have they failed to make it to the last four. In win-ratio terms (81 per cent), France’s tournament pedigree is only bettered by the southern hemisphere ‘big three’ of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

Meanwhile, Ireland and Canada will be looking to draw inspiration from their respective women’s sides, who performed so admirably to reach the knockout stages at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014. Ireland stunned New Zealand before bowing out at the semi-final stage after losing to eventual winners England, who proved just too strong for Canada in the final. In the men’s event, Ireland and Canada have never got past the quarter-finals.

IRELAND

RWC head-to-head record
v France: L 12-36 (1995), L 21-43 (2003), L 3-25 (2007)
v Italy: W 36-6 (2011) 
v Canada: W 46-19 (1987)
v Romania: W 44-14 (1999), W 45-17 (2003)

Other RWC records
Overall Playing Record: Played 30, W 17, D 0, L 13, PF 819, PA 584 Win% 57
Finishing Positions: 1987 Quarter-Final, 1991 Quarter-Final, 1995 Quarter-Final, 1999 Quarter-Final Play-Off, 2003 Quarter-Final, 2007, Pool Stages, 2011 Quarter-Final
Biggest Winning Margin: 57 (64-7 v Namibia, 2003)
Most Capped RWC player: Brian O’Driscoll 17
Top Points: Ronan O’Gara 93
Top Tries: Brian O’Driscoll 7

Did You Know? The number of RWC 2015 match ticket applications from Ireland, as a single country entity, is reported to have been exceeded only by those in Britain. 

FRANCE

RWC head-to-head record
v Ireland: W 36-12 (1995), W 43-21 (2003), W 25-3 (2007)
v Italy: -
v Canada: W 19-13 (1991), W 33-20 (1999), W 46-19 (2011)
v Romania: W 55-12 (1987), W 30-3 (1991) 

Other RWC records
Overall Playing Record: Played 37, W 30, D 1, L 12, PF 1,354, PA 775, Win% 81
Finishing Positions: 1987 Runner-Up, 1991 Quarter-Final, 1995 3rd, 1999 Runner-Up, 2003 3rd, 2007 4th, 2011 Runner-Up
Biggest Winning Margin: 77 (87-10 v Namibia, 2007)
Most Capped RWC player: Raphael Ibanez 18
Top Points: Thierry Lacroix 124
Top Tries: Vincent Clerc 11

Did You Know? France’s worst performance at a Rugby World Cup came in 1991 when they only reached the quarter-finals.

ITALY

RWC head-to-head record
v Ireland: L 6-36 (2011)
v France: -
v Canada: W 19-14 (2003)
v Romania: W 24-18 (2007)

Other RWC records
Overall Playing Record: Played 24, W 9, D 0, L 15, PF 455, PA 811
Finishing Positions: 1987 Pool Stages, 1991 Pool Stages, 1995 Pool Stages, 1999 Pool Stages, 2003 Pool Stages, 2007 Pool Stages, 2011 Pool Stages 
Biggest Winning Margin: 36 (53-17 v Russia, 2011)
Most capped RWC player: Alessandro Troncon 14
Top Points: Diego Dominguez 98
Top Tries: Marcello Cuttitta 5

Did You Know? Hooker Fabio Ongaro holds the unwanted record of being yellow-carded more times (three) than any other player in Rugby World Cup history.

CANADA

RWC head-to-head record
v Ireland: L 19-46 (1987)
v France: L 13-19 (1991), L 20-33 (1999), L 19-46 (2011)
v Italy: L 14-19 (2003)
v Romania: W 19-11 (1991), W 34-3 (1995)

Other RWC records 

Overall Playing Record: Played 25, W 7, D 2, L 16, PF 469, PA 707, Win%28
Finishing Positions: 1987 Pool Stages, 1991 Quarter-Final, 1995 Pool Stages, 1999 Pool Stages, 2003 Pool Stages, 2007 Pool Stages, 2011 Pool Stages
Biggest Winning Margin: 61 (72-11 v Namibia, 1999)
Most Capped RWC player: Rod Snow 14
Top Points: Gareth Rees 120
Top Tries: Al Charron/Morgan Williams 4

Did You Know? Canada and Japan drew 23-23 in John Kirwan's 23rd Rugby World Cup match as a player or coach. Kirwan's 23 matches is a record which was equalled by England's Martin Johnson in their quarter-final loss against France. 

ROMANIA

RWC head-to-head record
v Ireland: L 14-44 (1999), L 17-45 (2003)
v France: L 12-55 (1987), L 3-30 (1991)
v Italy: L 18-24 (2007)
v Canada: L 11-19 (1991), L 3-34 (1995)

Other RWC records

Overall Playing Record: Played 24, W 5, D 0, L 19, PF 305, PA 939 Win% 21
Finishing Positions: 1987 Pool Stages, 1991 Pool Stages, 1995 Pool Stages, 1999 Pool Stages, 2003 Pool Stages, 2007 Pool Stages, 2011 Pool Stages
Biggest Win: 30 (37-7 v Namibia, 2003)
Most Capped RWC player: Romeo Stefan Gontineac 14
Top Points: Petre Mitu 25
Top Tries: Marius Tincu 3

Did You Know? One of Romania's leading try-scorers, the wing Catalin Fercu, refused to travel to RWC 2011 in New Zealand. He is scared of flying.