Ireland Move Back Up To Fifth In World Rankings
Ireland’s narrow World Cup warm-up win over Italy on Friday night has seen them retake fifth place in the latest IRB World Rankings. Read on for more.
The victory over the Azzurri gained Ireland 0.46 rating points as they leapfrogged their World Cup Pool D rivals Argentina into fifth. The Pumas took part in a non-ranking match on Saturday, beating a Belgium team reinforced by French players by 36-8 in Brussels.
Another of Ireland’s World Cup opponents, France gained ground on second-placed Australia with their 34-7 victory over Wales in Cardiff yesterday. Thanks to their four-try triumph, Les Bleus moved from 86.35 to 86.90 rating points.
Having lost out at Ravenhill, Italy have dropped from 75.53 to 75.07 rating points but remain in ninth place, behind Wales. South Africa’s comfortable 27-3 success over Scotland on Saturday steadies their position in fourth (85.40). The Scots drop out of the world’s top ten, swapping places with Samoa.
IRB WORLD RANKINGS (As of August 27):
(1) New Zealand 93.38 rating points
(2) Australia 87.03
(3) France 86.90
(4) South Africa 85.40
(5) IRELAND 81.42
(6) Argentina 81.05
(7) England 78.89
(8) Wales 76.45
(9) Italy 75.07
(10) Samoa 74.97