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France overtake All Blacks on World Rugby rankings following Six Nations triumph
France have leapfrogged the All Blacks into second place on the World Rugby rankings following their Six Nations Grand Slam success on the weekend.
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The French clinched their first Six Nations title since 2010 when they beat England 25-13 at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, a victory that ensured Les Bleus went through this year’s edition of the tournament undefeated.
As a result of that win, France have climbed to their equal-highest all-time World Rugby ranking of second place, the first time they have risen that far up the rankings since October 2007.
In doing so, Fabien Galthie’s side have overtaken the All Blacks, who now sit in their equal-lowest all-time World Rugby ranking of third place after having lost their two most recents tests to Ireland and France last November, by 0.13 points.
It is the third time New Zealand has fallen to third place on the World Rugby rankings since their World Cup semi-final defeat to England in 2019.
Ireland’s runner-up Six Nations finish, which they concluded with a 26-5 win over Scotland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin over the weekend, also leaves Andy Farrell’s men just 0.53 points shy of the Kiwis in fourth place.
That adds an extra layer to what already promises to be a blockbuster three-test series when the Irish travel to New Zealand to take on the All Blacks in July.
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Victory over Ian Foster’s side would see Ireland condemn the All Blacks to their lowest-ever World Rugby ranking of fourth place.
France, meanwhile, remain 1.73 points behind the world’s top-ranked side and reigning world champions, the Springboks.
Elsewhere, Italy’s shock 22-21 Six Nations win over Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff last weekend has resulted in the Welsh dropping to ninth place, with Argentina moving up into eighth spot.
Italy remain in 14th place, 1.26 points adrift from Samoa, who have fallen to 13th courtesy of Georgia’s 49-15 Rugby Europe Championship victory over Spain in Tbilisi, which has moved the Lelos into 12th place.
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The only other movement among the world’s top 20 sides came in the form of Romania’s rise to 17th place following their 38-12 Rugby Europe Championship win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam last weekend.
Not only did that result secure Romania’s place in the Final Qualification Tournament for next year’s World Cup, but it also saw them swap World Rugby ranking places with the United States, who drop to 18th spot.
World Rugby rankings (1-20)
1. South Africa (N/C) – 90.61
2. France (+1) – 88.88
3. New Zealand (-1) – 88.75
4. Ireland (N/C) – 88.22
5. England (N/C) – 84.50
6. Australia (N/C) – 83.92
7. Scotland (N/C) – 81.80
8. Argentina (+1) – 80.58
9. Wales (-1) – 79.28
10. Japan (N/C) – 78.26
11. Fiji (N/C) – 76.62
12. Georgia (+1) – 73.78
13. Samoa (-1) – 73.59
14. Italy (N/C) – 72.33
15. Spain (N/C) – 68.26
16. Tonga (N/C) – 67.72
17. Romania (+1) – 66.95
18. USA (-1) – 66.54
19. Uruguay (N/C) – 66.40
20. Portugal (N/C) – 65.72
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments