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Rugby World Cup Guide
by FOXSports.com
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Tournament Guide
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Teams and Groups
| Pool A | ||||
| Team | IRB Rank | RWC Best Result | Colors | Preview |
| England | 7 | Champion 2003 | White and white | |
| South Africa | 4 | Champion 1995 | Green and white | |
| Samoa | 10 | Quarterfinal 1991 | Blue and white | |
| USA | 15 | Pool stage | Red and white | |
| Tonga | 14 | Pool Stage | Red and White | |
| Pool B | ||||
| Team | IRB Rank | RWC Best Result | Colors | Preview |
| Australia | 2 | Champion 1991, 1999 | Yellow and green | |
| Wales | 8 | Third 1987 | Red and white | |
| Fiji | 12 | Quarterfinal 1987 | White and black | |
| Canada | 13 | Quarterfinal 1991 | Red/black and black | |
| Japan | 18 | Pool Stage | Red/White and black | |
| Pool C | ||||
| Team | IRB Rank | RWC Best Result | Colors | Preview |
| New Zealand | 1 | Champion 1987 | Black and black | |
| Scotland | 11 | Fourth 1991 | Dark blue and white | |
| Italy | 9 | Pool Stage | Light blue and white | |
| Romania | 16 | Pool stage | Blue/yellow and blue | |
| Portugal | 22 | First-time qualifier | Maroon and green | |
| Pool D | ||||
| Team | IRB Rank | RWC Best Result | Colors | Preview |
| France | 3 | Finalist 1987, 1999 | Blue and blue | |
| Ireland | 5 | Quarterfinal 4 times | Green and white | |
| Argentina | 6 | Quarterfinal 1999 | Light blue/white hoops | |
| Georgia | 17 | Pool Stage | Red/white and white | |
| Namibia | 24 | Pool Stage | Blue and black | |
Points and Tiebreakers
The following point system will apply in the Pool stage:
- Win: 4
- Draw: 2
- Loss: 0
- Bonus Try for scoring four tries: 1
- Bonus Loss for losing by 7 points or less: 1
The top two teams in each Pool will proceed to the quarterfinals.
If teams finish level on points in the Pool stage, positions will be decided as follows:
- The winner of the match between the teams
- Team with best points differential in Pool play.
- Team with best try-scoring differential in Pool play.
- Team with most points scored Pool play.
- Team with most tries scored Pool play.
- Team that is higher ranked in the IRB World Rankings on October 1, 2007.
If teams are tied at the end of a Knockout Stage match the following will apply to determine a winner.
- Teams with play 10 minutes of extra time each way.
- Teams with play 10 minutes of sudden-death extra time with the first team to score winning
- A placekicking competition similar to a soccer penalty-shootout.
The kicking competition will involve five players from each team on the field at the end of sudden-death extra time taking shots at goal from the 22-meter line. First shot will be from infront of goal posts, second shot from left-hand 15-meter line, third shot from right hand 15-meter line. Additional shots will rotate on this basis. If teams are tied after five shots, then the kicking competition enters sudden-death. Team winning the toss can either choose which end to kick from or which team kicks first. The loser of the toss gets to make the remaining choice. Injured, substituted or dismissed players are not eligible to compete in the kicking competition.
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