The pool was composed of 2003 hosts Australia, as well as Canada, Fiji, Japan and Wales.

Wales' 38–34 loss to Fiji in their final pool game (their third World Cup loss to a Pacific island nation, having previously been beaten 16–13 by Western Samoa in 1991 and 38-31 by Samoa in 1999, both times in Cardiff),[1] meant Fiji qualified for the quarter-finals at Wales' expense.

Australia finished in top spot with the maximum of 20 points, while Japan and Canada played out the first draw in a Rugby World Cup game since a 20–20 draw between France and Scotland back in 1987.

[2] Neither Japan nor Canada managed to win any of their four games, with a single bonus point in Japan's favour proving the difference between them, after they managed to remain within 7 points of Fiji in a 35–31 defeat.

All times local (UTC+2) Man of the Match: Rocky Elsom (Australia) Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales) Dave Pearson (England) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Fifth official: Laurent Valin (France) Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada) Touch judges: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Christophe Dutreuilh (France) Man of the Match: Akapusi Qera (Fiji) Touch judges: Federico Cuesta (Argentina) Paul Marks (New Zealand) Television match official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland) Fourth official: Chris White (England) Fifth official: Romain Poite (France) Man of the Match: Chris Latham (Australia) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Tony Spreadbury (England) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales) Man of the Match: Kameli Ratuvou (Fiji) Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France) Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Joël Jutge (France) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales) Man of the Match: Michael Phillips (Wales) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Craig Joubert (South Africa) Television match official: Christophe Berdos (France) Fourth official: Nigel Owens (Wales) Fifth official: Tim Hayes (Wales) Man of the Match: Matt Giteau (Australia) Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Christophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Fourth official: Romain Poite (France) Fifth official: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France) Man of the Match: Morgan Williams (Canada) Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Joël Jutge (France) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Hervé Dubes (France) Man of the Match: Hugh McMeniman (Australia) Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) Fourth official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Fifth official: Stephan Pomarede (France) Man of the Match: Shane Williams (Wales) Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Fourth official: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Fifth official: Christophe Dutreuilh (France)