# 2017 Rugby League World Cup Group A

Group A of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup is one of the four groups in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which began on 27 October and was completed on 12 November 2017. The group comprised hosts Australia as well as England and France. They were joined by the winner of the Middle East-Africa qualifier, Lebanon. The group was one of two weighted groups containing top seeded teams where the top 3 qualify for the quarter finals. Australia, England and Lebanon finished the group stage in these positions.

## Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 10 | +94 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 34 | +35 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Lebanon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 81 | −42 | 2 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 4 | France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 117 | −87 | 0 | |

## Matches
### Australia vs England

* 27 October 2017 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)
| Australia | 18–4 | England |
| Tries: Gillett (23') 1 Slater (29') 1 Dugan (79') 1 Goals: Smith 3/4 (25', 76' pen, 80') | Report | Tries: 1 (5') McGillvary Goals: 0/1 Widdop |
* Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 22,724 Referee: Matt Cecchin (Australia) Player of the Match: Billy Slater (Australia)
| FB | 1 | Billy Slater |
| WG | 2 | Dane Gagai |
| CE | 3 | Will Chambers |
| CE | 4 | Josh Dugan |
| WG | 5 | Valentine Holmes |
| FE | 6 | Michael Morgan |
| HB | 7 | Cooper Cronk |
| PR | 8 | Aaron Woods |
| HK | 9 | Cameron Smith (c) |
| PR | 10 | David Klemmer |
| SR | 11 | Boyd Cordner |
| SR | 12 | Matt Gillett |
| LK | 13 | Jake Trbojevic |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Wade Graham |
| IC | 15 | Jordan McLean |
| IC | 16 | Josh McGuire |
| IC | 17 | Tyson Frizell |
| Coach: ||
| Mal Meninga ||
| FB | 1 | Jonny Lomax |
| WG | 2 | Jermaine McGillvary |
| CE | 3 | Kallum Watkins |
| CE | 4 | John Bateman |
| WG | 5 | Ryan Hall |
| FE | 6 | Gareth Widdop |
| HB | 7 | Luke Gale |
| PR | 8 | Chris Hill |
| HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| PR | 10 | James Graham |
| SR | 11 | Sam Burgess |
| SR | 12 | Elliott Whitehead |
| LK | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 15 | Chris Heighington |
| IC | 16 | Thomas Burgess |
| IC | 17 | James Roby |
| IC | 18 | Ben Currie |
| Coach: ||
| Wayne Bennett ||

### France vs Lebanon

* 29 October 2017 16:00 AEDT (UTC+11)
| France | 18–29 | Lebanon |
| Tries: Ader (16', 52') 2 Cardace (68') 1 Goals: Barthau 3/4 (20' pen, 53', 69') | Report | Tries: 2 (40', 80') Robinson 1 (8') Layoun 1 (63') Doueihi 1 (76') Moses Goals: 4/5 Moses (9', 40', 64', 77') Field Goals: 1 (74') Moses |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 5,492 Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia) Player of the Match: Mitchell Moses (Lebanon)
| FB | 1 | Mark Kheirallah |
| WG | 2 | Fouad Yaha |
| CE | 3 | Bastien Ader |
| CE | 4 | Damien Cardace |
| WG | 5 | Ilias Bergal |
| FE | 6 | Theo Fages (c) |
| HB | 7 | William Barthau |
| PR | 8 | Antoni Maria |
| HK | 9 | Éloi Pélissier |
| PR | 10 | Julian Bousquet |
| SR | 11 | Benjamin Garcia |
| SR | 12 | Benjamin Jullien |
| LK | 13 | Jason Baitieri |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Clément Boyer |
| IC | 15 | Nabil Djalout |
| IC | 16 | Thibaut Margalet |
| IC | 17 | Lucas Albert |
| Coach: ||
| Aurelien Cologni ||
| FB | 1 | Anthony Layoun |
| WG | 2 | Travis Robinson |
| CE | 3 | James Elias |
| CE | 4 | Jason Wehbe |
| WG | 5 | Abbas Miski |
| FE | 6 | Mitchell Moses |
| HB | 7 | Robbie Farah (c) |
| PR | 8 | Tim Mannah |
| HK | 17 | Andrew Kazzi |
| PR | 14 | Mitchell Mamary |
| SR | 16 | Jaleel Seve-Derbas |
| SR | 12 | Ahmad Ellaz |
| LK | 13 | Nick Kassis |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 9 | Michael Lichaa |
| IC | 10 | Alex Twal |
| IC | 15 | Elias Sukkar |
| IC | 18 | Adam Doueihi |
| Coach: ||
| Brad Fittler ||
Notes:
* Lebanon's victory over France was their first ever win at a World Cup.

### Australia vs France

* 3 November 2017 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)
| Australia | 52–6 | France |
| Tries: Graham (12', 15', 31', 66') 4 Munster (43', 74') 2 Dugan (33') 1 Frizell (49') 1 Slater (52') 1 Holmes (78') 1 Goals: Smith 6/8 (16', 32', 44', 51', 53', 67') Munster 0/2 | Report | Tries: 1 (24') Kheirallah Goals: 1/1 Marginet (25') |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 12,293 Referee: Robert Hicks (England) Player of the Match: Wade Graham (Australia)
| FB | 1 | Billy Slater |
| WG | 2 | Tom Trbojevic |
| CE | 3 | Will Chambers |
| CE | 4 | Josh Dugan |
| WG | 5 | Josh Mansour |
| FE | 6 | Michael Morgan |
| HB | 14 | Cameron Munster |
| PR | 8 | Jordan McLean |
| HK | 9 | Cameron Smith (c) |
| PR | 10 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
| SR | 11 | Wade Graham |
| SR | 12 | Tyson Frizell |
| LK | 13 | Josh McGuire |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 15 | Felise Kaufusi |
| IC | 16 | Aaron Woods |
| IC | 17 | David Klemmer |
| IC | 18 | Valentine Holmes |
| Coach: ||
| Mal Meninga ||
| FB | 1 | Mark Kheirallah |
| WG | 2 | Fouad Yaha |
| CE | 3 | Bastien Ader |
| CE | 4 | Olivier Arnaud |
| WG | 5 | Ilias Bergal |
| FE | 6 | Rémy Marginet |
| HB | 7 | Theo Fages (c) |
| PR | 13 | Jason Baitieri |
| HK | 17 | John Boudebza |
| PR | 10 | Julian Bousquet |
| SR | 11 | Benjamin Garcia |
| SR | 12 | Benjamin Jullien |
| LK | 15 | Mickaël Rouch |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 8 | Maxime Hérold |
| IC | 9 | Éloi Pélissier |
| IC | 14 | Thibaut Margalet |
| IC | 16 | Romain Navarrete |
| Coach: ||
| Aurelien Cologni ||

### England vs Lebanon

* 4 November 2017 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)
| England | 29–10 | Lebanon |
| Tries: Watkins (9') 1 McGillvary (25') 1 Hall (28') 1 Currie (32') 1 T. Burgess (56') 1 Goals: Widdop 4/5 (11', 26', 33', 57') Field Goals: Widdop (80') 1 | Report | Tries: 1 (18') Kassis 1 (76') Wehbe Goals: 1/2 Moses (19') |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 10,237 Referee: Ben Thaler (England) Player of the Match: Josh Hodgson (England)
| FB | 21 | Stefan Ratchford |
| WG | 2 | Jermaine McGillvary |
| CE | 3 | Kallum Watkins |
| CE | 4 | John Bateman |
| WG | 5 | Ryan Hall |
| FE | 6 | Gareth Widdop |
| HB | 7 | Luke Gale |
| PR | 8 | Chris Hill |
| HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| PR | 10 | James Graham |
| SR | 11 | Ben Currie |
| SR | 12 | Elliott Whitehead |
| LK | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Alex Walmsley |
| IC | 15 | Chris Heighington |
| IC | 16 | Thomas Burgess |
| IC | 18 | George Williams |
| Coach: ||
| Wayne Bennett ||
| FB | 1 | Daniel Abou-Sleiman |
| WG | 2 | Travis Robinson |
| CE | 3 | Bilal Maarbani |
| CE | 4 | Adam Doueihi |
| WG | 5 | Abbas Miski |
| FE | 6 | Mitchell Moses |
| HB | 7 | Robbie Farah (c) |
| PR | 8 | Tim Mannah |
| HK | 16 | Jamie Clark |
| PR | 14 | Mitchell Mamary |
| SR | 10 | Alex Twal |
| SR | 12 | Ahmad Ellaz |
| LK | 13 | Nick Kassis |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 9 | Michael Lichaa |
| IC | 15 | Ray Moujalli |
| IC | 17 | Jason Wehbe |
| IC | 18 | Elias Sukkar |
| Coach: ||
| Brad Fittler ||

### Australia vs Lebanon

* 11 November 2017 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)
| Australia | 34–0 | Lebanon |
| Tries: Munster (9', 50') 2 Maloney (25') 1 Cordner (55') 1 Gagai (76') 1 T. Trbojevic (79') 1 Goals: Maloney 4/4 (52', 56', 78', 80') Smith 1/2 (26') | Report | |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 21,127 Referee: James Child (England) Player of the Match: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Australia)
| FB | 1 | Valentine Holmes |
| WG | 2 | Dane Gagai |
| CE | 3 | Tom Trbojevic |
| CE | 4 | Cameron Munster |
| WG | 5 | Josh Mansour |
| FE | 6 | James Maloney |
| HB | 7 | Cooper Cronk |
| PR | 8 | Aaron Woods |
| HK | 9 | Cameron Smith (c) |
| PR | 10 | David Klemmer |
| SR | 11 | Boyd Cordner |
| SR | 12 | Matt Gillett |
| LK | 13 | Felise Kaufusi |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Ben Hunt |
| IC | 15 | Jordan McLean |
| IC | 16 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
| IC | 17 | Wade Graham |
| Coach: ||
| Mal Meninga ||
| FB | 1 | Anthony Layoun |
| WG | 19 | Danny Barakat |
| CE | 3 | James Elias |
| CE | 4 | Adam Doueihi |
| WG | 5 | Abbas Miski |
| FE | 6 | Mitchell Moses |
| HB | 7 | Robbie Farah (c) |
| PR | 8 | Tim Mannah |
| HK | 9 | Michael Lichaa |
| PR | 15 | Ray Moujalli |
| SR | 11 | Chris Saab |
| SR | 12 | Ahmad Ellaz |
| LK | 16 | Jamie Clark |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 10 | Alex Twal |
| IC | 14 | Mitchell Mamary |
| IC | 17 | Andrew Kazzi |
| IC | 17 | Jason Wehbe |
| Coach: ||
| Brad Fittler ||

### England vs France

* 12 November 2017 18:00 AWST (UTC+8)
| England | 36–6 | France |
| Tries: McGillvary (42', 64') 2 Widdop (3') 1 Ratchford (6') 1 Graham (9') 1 Percival (23') 1 Bateman (29') 1 Goals: Widdop 4/7 (4', 7', 10', 43') | Report | Tries: 1 (34') Garcia Goals: 1/1 Albert (35') |
* Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth Attendance: 14,744 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Gareth Widdop (England)
| FB | 1 | Gareth Widdop |
| WG | 2 | Stefan Ratchford |
| CE | 3 | Mark Percival |
| CE | 4 | John Bateman |
| WG | 5 | Jermaine McGillvary |
| FE | 6 | Kevin Brown |
| HB | 7 | Luke Gale |
| PR | 8 | Chris Hill |
| HK | 9 | James Roby |
| PR | 10 | James Graham |
| SR | 11 | Ben Currie |
| SR | 12 | Mike McMeeken |
| LK | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Alex Walmsley |
| IC | 15 | Thomas Burgess |
| IC | 16 | Scott Taylor |
| IC | 17 | George Williams |
| Coach: ||
| Wayne Bennett ||
| FB | 1 | Mark Kheirallah |
| WG | 2 | Fouad Yaha |
| CE | 3 | Bastien Ader |
| CE | 12 | Benjamin Jullien |
| WG | 5 | Ilias Bergal |
| FE | 6 | Theo Fages (c) |
| HB | 7 | Lucas Albert |
| PR | 8 | Antoni Maria |
| HK | 9 | John Boudebza |
| PR | 16 | Maxime Hérold |
| SR | 11 | Benjamin Garcia |
| SR | 10 | Julian Bousquet |
| LK | 13 | Jason Baitieri |
| Substitutes: ||
| IC | 14 | Romain Navarrete |
| IC | 15 | Thibaut Margalet |
| IC | 19 | Mickaël Rouch |
| IC | 20 | Nabil Djalout |
| Coach: ||
| Aurelien Cologni ||