Rugby World Cup Pool C Preview: Squads, fixtures, star players and more

Jared Wright
Australia's Will Skelton, Fiji's Semi Radradra and Wales' Jac Morgan

Our Rugby World Cup Pool C preview.

Rugby World Cup Pool C is arguably the most open pool in the tournament, with Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, and Portugal battling it out for a place in the knockouts.

Ahead of the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup, Planet Rugby previews each of the pools, next up Pool C.

Wales – World ranking: 10

Nickname: The Dragons
Head coach: Warren Gatland
Co-Captains: Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan

Squad:
Forwards: Taine Basham, Adam Beard, Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias, Taulupe Faletau, Tomas Francis, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake (cc), Dillon Lewis, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan (cc), Tommy Reffell, Will Rowlands, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Aaron Wainwright
Backs: Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Liam Williams, Tomos Williams

Rugby World Cup record: Pl 44, W 26, D 0 L 18, 59% win ratio.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: 3rd Place (1987)

Key Player – Dan Biggar: The veteran fly-half has confirmed that this will be his final World Cup, as he will be hanging up his Test boots after the tournament. Biggar is a leader on and off the pitch for Wales, and his ability to marshall the attack and take any points on offer from the tee will be pivotal for his side’s chances at the tournament.

Player to watch – Louis Rees-Zammit: The rapid winger believes that he is faster than ever before as he heads into his maiden Rugby World Cup. The 22-year-old has scored nine tries in his 27 matches for Wales ahead of the tournament, but don’t be surprised if the gifted runner bumps up those numbers significantly in France.

Australia – World ranking: 9

Nickname: Wallabies
Head coach: Eddie Jones
Captain: Will Skelton

Squad:
Forwards: Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, David Porecki, Jordan Uelese, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Will Skelton (c), Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Josh Kemeny

Backs: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott (vc), Nic White, Carter Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu, Ben Donaldson

Rugby World Cup record: Pl 53, W 42, D 0, L 11, 79% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Champions (1991, 1999)

Key Player – Samu Kerevi: The powerful centre is one of the more experienced players in Eddie Jones’ youthful squad. On form, Kerevi is easily one of the best inside centres in the game, and he will look to display that on rugby’s biggest stage.

Player to watch – Angus Bell: Quickly making a name for himself as one of the premiere loosehead props in the game. Bell is a robust scrummager and has impressed with ball in hand and on defence. He lit up the Rugby Championship earlier this year and repeated his standout performances in the World Cup warm-ups.

Fiji – World ranking: 7

Nickname: Flying Fijians
Head coach: Simon Raiwalui
Captain: Waisea Nayacalevu

Squad:
Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Peni Ravai, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Doge, Luke Tagi, Samu Tawake, Tevita Ikanivere, Sam Matavesi, Zuriel Togiatama, Isoa Nasilasila, Temo Mayanavanua, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Albert Tuisue, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Levani Botia, Vilive Miramira, Meli Derenalagi, Viliame Mata
Backs: Frank Lomani, Peni Matawalu, Simione Kuruvoli, Caleb Muntz, Teti Tela, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Waisea Nayacalevu, Iosefo Masi, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Vinaya Habosi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Sireli Maqala, Ilaisa Droasese

Rugby World Cup record: Pl 32, W 11, D0, L 21, 34% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Quarter-Finalist (1987, 2007)

Key Player – Semi Radradra: Quite simply, the Fijian centre is a superstar. He can rip open any defence, whether he is speeding through a gap, running over a defender or sidestepping the opposition. If the defence does manage to get an arm around him, he is an expert offloader.

Player to watch – Levani Botia: Switching from centre to flank would be a tricky transition for many, but not the Fijian veteran who has taken to it like a duck in water. Botia was outstanding inside centre for La Rochelle and Fiji but has moved into the pack, where he has shone and is quickly becoming one of the best players at the breakdown in the world.

Georgia – World ranking: 11

Nickname: Lelos
Head coach: Levan Maisashvili
Captain: Merab Sharikadze

Squad:
Forwards: Mikheil Nariashvili, Guram Gogichashvili, Nika Abuladze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Luka Nioradze, Tengiz Zamtaradze, Beka Gigashvili, Luka Japaridze, Guram Papidze, Lasha Jaiani, Konstantine Mikautadze, Nodar Cheishvili, Vladimer Chachanidze, Beka Saginadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Luka Ivanishvili, Beka Gorgadze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Tornike Jalagonia
Backs: Gela Aprasidze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tengiz Peranidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze, Aleksandre Todua, Merab Sharikadze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Modebadze Mirian, Akaki Tabutsadze, Davit Niniashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Kveseladze

Rugby World Cup record: Pl 20, W 5, D 0, L 15, 25% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Pool stage (5 times)

Key Player – Merab Sharikadze: The Georgian captain is also one of Lelos’ most important players. The inside centre is a fantastic defensive player but is equally impressive with the ball in hand. A true leader of men, if Georgia are to cause a shock in the tournament, Sharikadze will be crucial to their efforts.

Player to watch – Davit Niniashvili: While Georgia are historically renowned for their forward pack, they head into the Rugby World Cup with one of the most promising youngsters in world rugby. Niniashvili has already impressed with his performances with Lyon. The 21-year-old outside back is a crucial player in the backline and will be a nightmare for any opposition defence.

Portugal – World ranking: 16

Nickname: Os Lobos
Head coach: Patrice Lagisquet
Captain: Tomas Appleton

Squad:
Forwards: António Machado Santos, David Costa, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Francisco Fernandes, Francisco Bruno, Anthony Alves, Duarte Diniz, Lionel Campergue, Mike Tadjer, Duarte Torgal, José Madeira, José Maria Rebelo Andrade, Steevy Cerqueira, Martim Belo, Nicolas Martins, Rafael Simoes, Joao Granate, Thibault de Freitas, David Wallis.
Backs: Joao Belo, Pedro Lucas, Samuel Marques, Jeronimo Portela, Joris Moura, Jose Lima, Tomas Appleton, Pedro Bettencourt, Rodrigo Marta, Vincent Pinto, Manuel Cardoso Pinto, Raffaele Storti, Nuno Sousa Guedes, Simao Bento

Rugby World Cup record: Pl 4, W 0, D0, L 0, 0% win rate.
Best Rugby World Cup finish: Pool stage (2007)

Key Player – Samuel Marques: The man who kicked Portugal into the Rugby World Cup, Marques is an intelligent scrum half who has been plying his trade in the Top 14 and PROD2 for the last 14 years. An accurate goal kicker and tactician, Marques will be crucial for Os Lobos in the tournament.

Player to watch – Raffaele Storti: Portugal play an entertaining brand of rugby, which plays right into the hands of their lightning-quick winger, Storti. The 22-year-old is a key man in their backline and heads into the World Cup off the back of an outstanding PROD2 season where he scored 13 tries in 15 matches.

Rugby World Cup Pool C fixtures

Saturday 9 September Australia v Georgia – 5 pm, Stade de France, Paris
Sunday 10 September Wales v Fiji – 8 pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Saturday 16 September Wales v Portugal – 4.45 pm, Stade de Nice, Nice
Sunday 17 Sept Australia v Fiji – 4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Saturday 23 September Georgia v Portugal – 1 pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sunday 24 September Wales v Australia – 8 pm, Parc OL, Lyon
Saturday 30 September Fiji v Georgia – 4.45 pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sunday 1 October Australia v Portugal – 4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Saturday 7 October Wales v Georgia – 2 pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Sunday 8 October Fiji v Portugal – 8 pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

READ MORE: Rugby World Cup Pool B preview: Squads, fixtures, star players and more

Australia Angus Bell Davit Niniashvili Levan Maisashvili Levani Botia Merab Sharikadze Patrice Lagisquet Raffaelle Storti Samu Kerevi

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