World Champions and IRB ranking leaders New Zealand hit the lead in the 10 Nations tournament over the weekend.
The All Blacks took full advantage of their game in hand over South Africa by defeating England, while the Springboks spun their wheels playing a team outside the tournament.
Only a history making loss to the Irish can seemingly stop them claiming the championship VoVos – much to the relief of tournament organisers, it must be said.
Ireland have essentially locked in sixth position with their loss to Australia, regardless of the result of their final match against the Kiwis with France behind them on seventh.
Only a 40-odd point win against the South Africans this weekend can lift the French to sixth.
A result like this, though very unlikely, would arguably produce an unfairly high finish for the French, who have so far lost all their real world matches in the tournament. It wouldn’t be the first time the French have finished high in a major tournament despite performing poorly for the bulk of it.
All other positions are largely settled barring places three to five.
As predicted last week the final match of the tournament in Cardiff will decide the fates of England, Australia and Wales, with all three having a chance of finishing third.
Wales simply need to beat Australia and they will leapfrog England due to their superior adjusted differential. Australia would need to beat Wales by 19 points to do the same – a suitable finale for this thrilling tournament.
Current tournament rankings are below.
Points Table
1 New Zealand 37
2 South Africa 34
3 England 31
4 Australia 26
5 Wales 26
6 Ireland 20
7 France 15
8 Italy 15
9 Samoa 11
10 Argentina 5
Due to the settled nature of the table, the next update will come after the tournament finishes in two weeks’ time.
Soapit
Guest
Right, get back to be when you can confirm that
Soapit
Guest
They only beat them once within the tournament. Remember, it's a tournament not a ranking system, like all tournament there's no guarantee the team that performs the best outside it will finish number 1. How many times have the crusaders lost to teams in preason games only to finish well above them in the tournament I guess the World Cup loses credibility when things like France making the final after losing so many pool games happen, nz being briefly behind while they catch their game is fairly minor in comparison Also it's no fantasy, vo vos and arrow roots will be posted out in just over a week
frustrated old forward
Guest
I believe that a serious point needs to be made . The iced vo vos are not a second rate prize .gotta love that pink icing and coconut. Just like a good kiwi back
kelefua
Guest
I wasnt asking you to instigate a commision & tbc idc what your priorities are:)
Kia_Ora_Kiwi
Guest
The crack in the mirror is that the only unbeaten team in the real world was 2 nd in your fantasy world. I do applaud your efforts but "game in hand" or not your table looses credibility when an unbeaten team is 2nd behind a team they have beaaten twice. But that being said I will be looking out 4 the 10 nations in future.
AWCMONREF
Guest
Doh :(
Soapit
Guest
Actually thinking about it that not what you were saying. You feel teams being lower on points with games in hand is a crack. This is very odd. It happens all the time in many sports, see last year super rugby season so surely Can't be the first time you've noticed it happening, but I presume you didn't repeatedly make comments about the tournament being broken then?
Soapit
Guest
http://www.arnotts.com.au/our-products/products/fancy-and-fruit.aspx
Soapit
Guest
I really don't know, tbh it's not high on my list to figure out
Soapit
Guest
Best you avoid following future tournaments such as the World Cup then, they all have these 'cracks'. Only games in the tournament count. They didn't amend the six nations results when France beat wales in the last wc semi. You want crackless follow the irb rankings.
Ra
Guest
Damn!!! They're tough on the ignorant around here. I'll just shut up and wait till someone explains.
stillmatic1
Guest
if your question asking what an iced vo-vo is legit, awcmonref, then you must be banished from theroar immediately until you have eaten a whole packet of these delicious treats as a way of recompense and education. actually, off with his head.............
TrueBlue
Guest
No wonder they organised a match against Japan - they were holding the shield having beaten Wales, who beat England, who beat NZ least year.
kelefua
Guest
"I always thought the position was fairly random to start and then changed when the posts racked up" If this were true then shouldnt recent articles from Harry & BiltongBek be at the top? These posters have written some great pieces that quickly gain the clicks yet as the numbers escalate they seem to be relegated to nowhere land. Brett McKay writes some good pieces but at times they're not that thought provoking yet they seem to sit at the top for days even with low count of responses. I do hope the placing of these articles are random otherwise its a shame Roarers are missing out on some great reading due to selectiveness of admin:(
Jerry
Guest
They were defending the Raeburn Shield, of course.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
I know youve explained it. But if I explain there is a crack in the mirror it doesnt make the crack disappear.
ben
Guest
Crockett hore faumuina romano whitelock luatua mccaw reid a. Smith cruden nonu b. Smith savea jane dagg. Perenara bench debut as i said earlier which means baabaas wont have the traditional uncapped player. Does that mean ardie savea instead?
Soapit
Guest
Ritz?! Ur joking aren't you? Not even in the same class as vovos
Soapit
Guest
I can only be pleased if I brought you joy. Perhaps it's better you don't try and look with any depth to understand the reason behind these queries as I'd say it would likely lead to a reduction in pleasure for you
richard
Guest
Jiggles,you really have it in for the Welsh,don't you.What did they do to give you such a complex?