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France overtake All Blacks on World Rugby rankings following Six Nations triumph
By Alex McLeod
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
