2003 Rugby World Cup Pool B
Pool B was one of four pools at the 2003 Rugby World Cup into which the 20 participating teams were divided. The pool included 1999 quarter-finalists France and Scotland, who both qualified automatically having reached the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament, along with Fiji, the United States and Japan.[1]
Teams
| Team | Method of qualification |
Date of qualification |
Apps. | Last | Previous best performance |
IRB World Ranking (6 October 2003) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 France |
Quarter-finalists in 1999 | 16 October 1999 | 5th | 1999 | Runners-up (1987, 1999) | 5 |
 Scotland |
Quarter-finalists in 1999 | 20 October 1999 | 5th | 1999 | Fourth place (1991) | 9 |
 Fiji |
Oceania 1 | 28 June 2002[2] | 4th | 1999 | Quarter-finals (1987) | 11 |
 United States |
Repechage 1 | 27 April 2003[3] | 4th | 1999 | Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1999) | 14 |
 Japan |
Asia 1 | 14 July 2002 | 5th | 1999 | Pool stage (1987, 1991, 1995, 1999) | 18 |
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 70 | +134 | 4 | 20 | Advance to quarter-finals, and qualification to the 2007 Rugby World Cup |
| 2 | Scotland
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 97 | +5 | 2 | 14 | |
| 3 | Fiji
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 98 | 114 | −16 | 2 | 10 | Qualification to the 2007 Rugby World Cup |
| 4 | United States
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 86 | 125 | −39 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Japan
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 163 | −84 | 0 | 0 |
Source: [citation needed]
In the quarter-finals:
- The winners of Pool B advanced to play the runners-up of Pool A.
- The runners-up of Pool B advanced to play the winners of Pool A.
Matches
France vs Fiji
| 11 October 2003 |
| France | 61–18 | Fiji |
| Try: Dominici (2) Harinordoquy Jauzion (3) Ibañez Con: Michalak (4) Pen: Michalak (6) | Report | Try: Naevo Caucaunibuca Con: Little Pen: Little (2) |
| Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,795 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
Scotland vs Japan
| 12 October 2003 |
| Scotland | 32–11 | Japan |
| Try: Paterson (2) Grimes Taylor Danielli Con: Paterson Townsend Pen: Paterson | Report | Try: Onozawa Pen: Hirose (2) |
| Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 19,170 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
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Fiji vs United States
| 15 October 2003 |
| Fiji | 19–18 | United States |
| Try: Naevo Con: Little Pen: Little (4) | Report | Try: Van Zyl Schubert Con: Hercus Pen: Hercus (2) |
| Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 30,990 Referee: Joël Jutge (France) |
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France vs Japan
| 18 October 2003 |
| France | 51–29 | Japan |
| Try: Michalak Rougerie (2) Pelous Dominici Crenca Con: Michalak (5) Merceron Pen: Michalak (3) | Report | Try: Konia Ohata Con: Kurihara (2) Pen: Kurihara (5) |
| Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 21,309 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland) |
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Scotland vs United States
| 20 October 2003 |
| Scotland | 39–15 | United States |
| Try: Danielli (2) Kerr Townsend Paterson Con: Paterson (4) Pen: Paterson (2) | Report | Pen: Hercus (5) |
| Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,796 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
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Fiji vs Japan
| 23 October 2003 |
| Fiji | 41–13 | Japan |
| Try: Tuilevu (2) Ligairi (2) Vunibaka Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (4) | Report | Try: Miller Con: Miller Pen: Miller Drop: Miller |
| Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 17,269 Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales) |
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France vs Scotland
| 25 October 2003 |
| France | 51–9 | Scotland |
| Try: Betsen Harinordoquy Michalak Galthié Brusque Con: Michalak (3) Merceron Pen: Michalak (4) Drop: Michalak Brusque | Report | Pen: Paterson (3) |
| Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 78,974 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland) |
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Japan vs United States
| 27 October 2003 |
| Japan | 26–39 | United States |
| Try: Kurihara Ohata Con: Kurihara (2) Pen: Kurihara (4) | Report | Try: Hercus Eloff Schubert Van Zyl Khasigian Con: Hercus (4) Pen: Hercus (2) |
| Central Coast Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 19,653 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) |
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France vs United States
| 31 October 2003 |
| France | 41–14 | United States |
| Try: Liebenberg (3) Poux Bru Con: Merceron (2) Pen: Merceron (3) Drop: Yachvili | Report | Try: Hercus Schubert Con: Hercus (2) |
| WIN Stadium, Wollongong Attendance: 17,833 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) |
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Scotland vs Fiji
| 1 November 2003 |
| Scotland | 22–20 | Fiji |
| Try: Smith Con: Paterson Pen: Paterson (5) | Report | Try: Caucaunibuca (2) Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (2) |
| Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 37,137 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England) |
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References
- ^ "World Cup schedule". BBC Sport. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Samoa and Fiji book World Cup places". BBC Sport. 29 June 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "US reach World Cup". BBC Sport. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2023.