Pool B Facts and Stats

• Despite playing a combined total of 83 Rugby World Cup matches, Ireland and South Africa will meet for the first time at the tournament in Stade de France on the 23rd of September.

• South Africa are the reigning Rugby World Cup champions after defeating England in the 2019 final (32-12) and have won a joint-high three titles overall (also 1995 and 2007) – the Springboks will aim to become just the second ever side to retain the Webb Ellis Cup after New Zealand did so in 2015.

• South Africa are the only nation to win the Rugby World Cup after losing a match during the Pool Stage of the tournament, doing so in 2019.

• Ireland have reached seven Rugby World Cup quarterfinals without ever advancing to the semis, overthree times as often as any other side never to reach the last four - however, only once before have they failed to progress beyond the pool stage (2007).

• Scotland are the only nation to score more tries than New Zealand in an edition of the Rugby WorldCup, doing so in 1999 when they crossed the try line on 20 occasions; the All Blacks have been the top
try scorers at every other edition of the tournament.

• Scotland are the only side to keep their opponents scoreless in consecutive matches at the World Cup, doing so in 2019 when they beat Samoa 34-0 before defeating Russia 61-0 in their next fixture.

• Tonga will participate in their ninth Rugby World Cup, having played in every edition of the competition besides 1991, however, they have exited at the pool stages in each of their previous eight appearances.

• Romania will face both Ireland and Scotland at the Rugby World Cup for the fourth time, against no other nation will they have played as many matches at the tournament.