If there are any All Black rugby fans anxious about the IRB World Rugby Rankings, this is their time to suffer. When the All Blacks enter the tunnel at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 17th November, it will be to face a true challenger.
New Zealand’s domination of the entire rugby world has kept them at the summit of the rankings for almost a decade. Now Ireland look able to take their place at the top.
Ireland will not achieve it this this time around. Not unless Eddie Jones pulls off a miracle and England win their tie at Twickenham on 10th November, and Ireland then win the following Saturday.
Provided the All Blacks win one of these ties, their position is safe for the moment. In fact the Autumn Series is a chance for the All Blacks to re-establish that formidable gap at the top because beating England and Ireland will yield considerable ranking points (unlike the Rugby Championship where New Zealand were too far ahead of their opposition to gain much). They can send Ireland tumbling back down to a respectable distance. New Zealand could go home with the kind of advantage over the rest of the world that they have grown accustomed to.
Richie Mo’unga of the All Blacks (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Perhaps a more realistic scenario is that the All Blacks beat England at Twickenham but lose to Ireland in Dublin a week later. If this happens New Zealand will limp home with a one rankings-point lead over Ireland in the rankings.
The celebrations in Dublin will be for more than a one-off victory over the All Blacks; it becomes a practical certainty that Ireland will take the number one spot in the rankings over the course of the Six Nations competition in early 2019.
The Aviva game decides which is the greatest rugby team on the planet.
NZ are beaten by both England and Ireland
Before ‘Autumn Internationals’
After ‘Autumn Internationals’
1 New Zealand 92.96 | 1 Ireland 90.95
2 Ireland 90.12 | 2 New Zealand 90.55
3 Wales 85.94 | 3 Wales 86.70
4 England 85.68 | 4 England 85.74
5 South Africa 83.52 | 5 South Africa 84.93
6 Scotland 83.02 | 6 Australia 82.50
NZ beat both England and Ireland in the Autumn Series
Before ‘Autumn Internationals’
After ‘Autumn Internationals’
1 New Zealand 92.96 | 1 New Zealand 94.35
2 Ireland 90.12 | 2 Ireland 89.15
3 Wales 85.94 | 3 Wales 86.70
4 England 85.68 | 4 South Africa 84.93
5 South Africa 83.52 | 5 England 83.74
6 Scotland 83.02 | 6 Australia 82.50
Eddie Jones – what can he do against the All Blacks? (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
NZ beat England and lose to Ireland
Before ‘Autumn Internationals’
After ‘Autumn Internationals’
1 New Zealand 92.96 | 1 New Zealand 92.35
2 Ireland 90.12 | 2 Ireland 91.15
3 Wales 85.94 | 3 Wales 86.70
4 England 85.68 | 4 South Africa 84.93
5 South Africa 83.52 | 5 England 83.74
6 Scotland 83.02 | 6 Australia 82.50
NZ beat England but lose to Ireland by more than 15 points
Before ‘Autumn Internationals’
After ‘Autumn Internationals’
1 New Zealand 92.96 | 1 New Zealand 91.84
2 Ireland 90.12 | 2 Ireland 91.66
3 Wales 85.94 | 3 Wales 86.70
4 England 85.68 | 4 South Africa 84.93
5 South Africa 83.52 | 5 England 83.74
6 Scotland 83.02 | 6 Australia 82.50
Matt Price
Guest
Quite big rivals atm with Ireland in rugby and football lol but I will be supporting them vs the all blacks.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Id like to see NZ put their B team out, that would never happen though as they would get spanked in Dublin.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
That was probably the dirtiest opponent I have seen in an Ireland game in a long time. How Sam Cane escaped without a red card is one of rugby's great mysteries.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Beirne is a guy you will be hearing more and more about as he gets more game time. Both Beirne and Ryan are future Lions. Probably the next tour to SA.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Sorry Edge, I've been absent for a few days. I said where the Boks produced in "periods". The Irish should be able to maintain this style (hold the ball in tight & starve the opposition of ball), for much longer then the Boks did. This is where the AB's will have problems.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
They've only beaten us once in over 100 years - yawn. We should give our B team a run to give Ireland a sniff really...
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Sure, Ryan especially. I don't think any of them can be seriously compared to Retallick though. Nakarawa is about the only lock in the world that I would rate anywhere near him.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Retallick is a great player but Ryan, Henderson, Beirne and Toner are all very strong locks. Probably better than some think.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Im mean its very true that SA can hit quite high levels but the win in New Zealand was their only away win this year. They seem desperately inconsistent. Ireland have only lost one away game this year.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Either way previous results don't really point to an 18+ win particularly given Ireland's game plan revolves around breakdown and possession dominance. The bookies have it at plus 6 handicap for New Zealand.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
New Zealand and Ireland have very different styles. Odd comment. NZ mix it up a lot running, kicking, forward play, set piece and score most of their tries on turnovers or set pieces. Ireland's game plan revolves around breakdown and possession dominance most of the scores come through extended phase play. Very, very different styles I'd say.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
In all fairness the ABs almost lost to Scotland in Murrayfield too. The ABs didn't have to travel 28 hours to play 3 tests away v Australia. They played them at home, a 3 hour flight away and then at a neutral venue. See the difference?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think the All Black pack with Retallick > Ireland. Irish pack could better than the All Blacks without Retallick.
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
Depends on how they win it. If they just sneak past us, then yeah they are still no2, but if they beat us comprehensively then they are definitely no1 in my book. We have no excuses this time, most of our forwards have had a lot of rest over the last two months so fatigue shouldn't be a factor and Cane aside, we have a full squad to pick from.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
It does if you slow it down or break it down if you prefer
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah but you sound like youre clinging to a two year old stat like it means something. How about this stat. Since then ireland lost tobScotland and wales, one ABs jave ever lost to and the other since 1953. They also narrowly beat oz in this years series where the ABs scored big wins all 3.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Think your opinion on thats gonna change fairly soon.
Jerry
Guest
Actually in only one of them was the score close. It's just that the other two - Ireland by 11 and NZ by 12 more basically cancel each other out.
taylorman
Roar Guru
redsfan is sure a tough clue.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Depends on what SA team shows up. The one that beat the ABs at home with passion and commitment and ran them close in the following game, or the one that turned up agasint England in the weekend that couldn't hit the side of a barn with a line-out throw.