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

Credit: INPHO/Dave Winter

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.

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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

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PoppaRick 1 hour ago
The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

It annoys when sport “Professionals “ make statements like that . The Best Team, plays their Best game in the final. The start of the Season is pure entertainment for the Fans and training for the Teams. The last 2 years in a row the Chiefs timed their run wrong and “Choked “. Not a word used when speaking about the Crusaders, EVER!!

Hamish Bidwell should put something behind his arrogant statement. He’s playing the weatherman game, he knows, if he gets it wrong, meh!

But he takes kudos for getting a 50/50 right.

Remember game #1.

Rob Penny took his front row off including Tamaiti Williams who was demolishing the Chiefs scrum and causing havoc all over the field. The Saders lost the second half and the game, meh? Yes meh! We lost Tamaiti first game last season a loss we didn’t recover from when added to Jordan, Scooter, Backadder , etc. Yet they beat The Blues in the last Round game. Oh that’s right the Chiefs ( qualified first ) then lost to the Blues, at home! With 🐄🔔S.

The Crusaders as a whole, from top down, know the season is decided at the end.

Not a team I would write off so easily.

As for the Cow Bells. If I had Chiefs supporters coming over to watch the game at mine. I would ask them to leave the bells at home, purely because they are so bloody annoying. My house my rules. Next year don’t lose in the “Finals” (joke), get the home final and tell the Crusaders to leave the horses at home (🤣🤣🤣).

I can’t wait the game will be awesome for so many reasons.

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