An onfield altercation breaks out during the Rugby Union England v Wallabies match at Subiaco Oval in Perth. AAP Image/Tony McDonough
The IRB released their new world rankings a short time ago. There are 39 changes – 20 teams falling and 19 teams on the rise.
Australia’s loss to sixth-placed England at the weekend sees them fall out of the top three for the first time since June 2008. They are now just ahead of fifth-placed Ireland, with both teams due to meet at the weekend.
» Up to date World Rugby Rankings
Australia’s place in the top three is taken by France, who move up for the first time since October 2007.
New Zealand stay at number one, almost two points clear of South Africa, who themselves are over four points clear of the French.
Scotland’s win over Argentina sees the two teams swap places.
The Scots are now in 7th place, while the Pumas have fallen to 9th. The Welsh are currently a point ahead of the South Americans in 8th place, but now that France have moved into 3rd place, a win for the Pumas over the French next weekend could see them move up again.
Further down the table, Japan have moved up to 12th place. The Cherry Blossoms recent good form took a knock in the Pacific Nations Cup when they were well beaten by 10th placed Fiji.
However, John Kirwan’s team went on to shock hosts Samoa for their first win over the Islanders since 1999, and the teams swap places, with Samoa now in 13th.
Samoa now face Fiji in the Cup, while Japan will want to beat 16th placed Tonga to secure their place behind Kirwan’s old team, Italy, who hold the 11th spot.
I’m sure it gives French supporters little comfort to be in 3rd place after the team’s bruising loss to South Africa, but they are now reaping the cumulative rewards of a Six Nations Grand slam, and earlier wins over the higher placed Boks and All Blacks.
It may seem hard on Australia to fall out of the top three after a one point loss to England, especially since they beat them the week before and retained the Cook Cup.
However, their status was somewhat undermined during the Grand Slam tour, with the loss to Scotland, who ranked several places below the Wallabies.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Well, it was a short-lived fall from grace for the Wallabies who are once more back in the Top 3. The win over Ireland, which gave them 0.58 points, wouldn't have been enough on it's own to see them back in 3rd place but France lowered the target with their loss to Argentina. As mentioned above, defeat in South America was more costly for France because the gap in points between the two teams had widened following the Pumas' series defeat to Scotland. The French end their season in 4th place Argentina rose a place on the back of the win to 8th, edging out the Welsh how now have their lowest position in the table since February 2008.
Republican
Guest
Sylvester. Agreed.
MattyP
Guest
Martin Johnson, anyone?
adrien2166
Guest
but the world ranking is not very important, isn't it? sometimes you lose a rank sometimes you step up...as a french i'm pretty sure the aussies are better players than us, even if the rugby rules sometimes allow a team less physical, with less skills and which produce less spectacle, to win a game. I like watching the wallabies they play with a bit of league skills as it is mentioned in another article here, then sometimes it could be boring, but when it's well played, we just sit down watch and enjoy it! the 1st game against england was an example of this, they were very pleasant to watch, the england just killed the game a bit with their boring scrums and forward game but the wallabies played so well! hope they will continue in this way!
Sylvester
Guest
I agree with your statements, but to be fair to Blinky, he was responding the idea of allowing Aussie players in NZ teams (obviously in numbers greater than the one or two we've had in the past). The Aussie "aid" to our sports has been allowing us our own team in their comp, so the idea should be the ARU asking the NZRU to enter an Aussie team in the NPC. That would be fair.
Republican
Guest
Blinky NZ 'bludge' of us in just about any sport you care to mention, although I would prefer to articulate this as us affording them support. It is the exception rather than the rule that we would derive any NZ support - in anything to be perfectly frank.. Cheers
Nondescript
Guest
Unfortunately, IRB ranking points are only awarded for test matches. As Canada had the temerity to beat France 'A', the chance of another match up against Canada and USA, and hence some more ranking points was lost.
Derm
Roar Guru
Actually Loftus, if you look at the rankings between 2nd and 4th before the SA/France match, France would have overtaken the Boks on the rankings, if they had won by more than 15 points. (87.91 v 86.46) Based on the current rankings now, (SA on 89.46 and Fra on 84.91) if France were to play SA again in SA and won by more than 15 points, they would overtake the Boks (87.54 v 86.83)- that's how the IRB system works, when you're playing a team above you. Don't forget that France and Ireland both took rating points off the Boks last November when they beat them. Australia wouldn't have gained as much if they had beaten England since they were already over 5 ranking points above them and beating a team ranked lower than you doesn't gain you as much, and you're playing at home. New Zealand do well because they win their matches away as well as at home - that includes the November tours. They don't gain many points by winning, but they avoid losing points through losing - unlike SA and Australia. Here's a useful link to see how the ratings work, and to try out for yourself the result of matches: http://www.lassen.co.nz/pagmisc.php
Loftus
Guest
Yes Stash,SA were very lucky to be 2nd! How did you get to that conclusion? Because I thought the Wallabies were in 3rd place and the French are moving up from 4th for the 1st time since October 2007.Wow,thats interesting,Stash.In that case SA were REALLY lucky to be in front of Australia,hey? And extremely lucky to win the World Cup,Tri Nations,B I Lions and the S14.I just hope our luck can continue for a little bit longer before we hand over our trophies to the other teams that deserve it more...
Derm
Roar Guru
Why will it get really annoying?
Socboy
Guest
Exactly a few years ago Brock james and Hilgendorf also played in NZ I believe. The ARU does need to come up with it's own solutions but until one can be found why not take advantage of whats on your doorstep. Surely having these young up and comers it can only add to the intrigue and even help bopost the competitiveness.
Brett McKay
Expert
you mean like Christian Lealiifano playing for Waikato??
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Why would the NZRU want to help Australia via the ANZC? What's in it for NZ? IMHO the ARU needs to come-up with it's own solutions. Bludging off the Kiwi's is not the answer.
Stash
Guest
Comet, An inability to win away throughout the year. Thinking its ok to drop games because there not considered important enough. Having a less win ratio than the All Blacks. Inability to play consistently game after game, for an entire year. Quite lucky to be second actually, there was a tiny margin between SA and France until the latest game.
Joh4Canberra
Roar Rookie
not to mention putting an end to the risible current 3N format of playing each other team THREE times (one at home and two away/ two at home and one away).
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Barring injuries, Hayden. There were no issues over player release.
San Jorge
Guest
What because 25 code war articles a week isnt annoying? I enjoyed the article, if you find it annoying then don't read it.
The Other Reds Fan.
Guest
Stops us coming last each year at least.
Socboy
Guest
I don't see why the ARU doesn't do a deal with the NZRU and get some of these young blokes into the ANZC spread them around the provinces. As for no shame in being second maybe not but a 62-17 drubbing in the final of a World Championship is definitely nothing to be proud of either.
Rusty
Roar Guru
because South Africa unlike the All Blacks havent quite grasped that the key to this ranking gimmick is not just beating those above you but avoiding losing to those significantly below you where a greater point exchange will occur e.g. end of year tours