• Rugby World Cup 2019: Japan make history as fearsome All Blacks march on – the pool stage in numbers

    With the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals coming up, we look back at an enthralling pool stage using Opta data.
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    The Rugby World Cup is headed for the knockout rounds after a dramatic pool stage in which Scotland were the biggest casualties.

    Eight teams remain from 20, with hosts Japan – who have four wins from four – progressing as winners of Pool A after defeating Gregor Townsend’s men on Sunday.

    Japan also stunned Ireland in the same group, but Joe Schmidt’s side progressed into the quarters in second.

    In Pool B, two-time defending champions New Zealand finished top, with an impressive South Africa side behind them. Italy were frustrated as the impact of Typhoon Hagibis ended their slim chances of progression.

    Meanwhile, England topped Pool C with France in second place, with Wales and Australia completing the last-eight line-up.

    Using Opta data, we look back at an enthralling tournament so far.

    Pool A – Japan, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Russia

    1 – Japan are into the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time in their history, becoming the first non-tier one side to do so since Fiji in 2007.

    5 – Kirill Golosnitskiy’s scored in the fifth minute of the opening match as Russia took the lead against Japan. It is the quickest ever try in a World Cup opener.

    2 – Scotland have failed to make it out of the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup for just the second time, after also doing so in 2011.

    90 – Rob Kearney crossed for a try after just 90 seconds against Russia, Ireland’s fastest World Cup try and the fastest of the tournament so far.

    48 – Japan’s Yu Tamura has scored 48 points so far, more than any other player. All of his points have come with the boot – 10 penalties and nine conversions.

    Pool B – New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada

    4 – Canada had Josh Larsen sent off versus South Africa and have had four players dismissed in the history of the World Cup, more than any other side. There have been seven dismissals so far this tournament – four was the previous highest total in both 1995 and 1999.

    17 – New Zealand have won their last 17 World Cup matches, the longest run by any side in the tournament’s history.

    21 – Against Canada, South Africa’s Cobus Reinach scored the earliest hat-trick in a World Cup match, crossing for his third try in the 21st minute.

    142 – After featuring against South Africa, Italy captain Sergio Parisse surpassed Brian O’Driscoll (141) to become the outright second-most capped player in Test rugby history behind Richie McCaw, who played 148 times.

    Pool C – England, France, Argentina, Tonga, USA

    20 – Against Argentina, Romain Ntamack, aged 20 years and 143 days, became the youngest player to feature for France in a World Cup match.

    88 – Agustin Creevy won his 88th cap for Argentina when he played against England, overtaking Felipe Contepomi as Los Puma’s most capped player.

    6 – George Ford has been involved in six tries for England, more than any other player, scoring two and providing a tournament-high four assists.

    Pool D – Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay

    62 – Fiji’s Semi Radradra topped the charts for carries (62), metres (400) and defenders beaten (29) in the pool stage.

    94 – James Slipper scored his first try for Australia in his 94th Test when the Wallabies faced Uruguay. No player from any nation has played more matches before scoring their first try.

    130 – By playing in Wales’ win over Australia, Alun Wyn Jones overtook Gethin Jenkins (129) as the most capped Welshman, going on to make his 131st appearance against Fiji.

    35 – At the age of 35 years and 186 days, Adam Ashley-Cooper is the oldest Australia player to make a World Cup appearance. He subsequently became their oldest try scorer in World Cup history, and their oldest in any match since 1966.

    100 – Warren Gatland’s side have won 100 per cent of their matches so far. It is the first time Wales have won all of their pool games since 1987.

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