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France reach highest world rankings position in six years following victory over Wales
Six Nations leaders France have moved into their highest position on the World Rugby men’s rankings in over six years following their win over Wales on the weekend.
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The 27-23 victory in Cardiff kept their undefeated run in the Six Nations alive with three wins from as many outings, and Fabien Galthié’s side are in pole position for a Grand Slam title as they lie in first place with matches against Scotland in Edinburgh and Ireland in Paris remaining.
Their prior wins over England, Italy and now Wales have now been recognised by the world rankings system, as Les Bleus have been elevated to fifth place for the first time since February 2014.
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Their rise through the rankings – they started in seventh spot leading into the Six Nations – is indicative of the young French side’s performances in the tournament, which they are primed to win for the first time in a decade.
Should they maintain their unbeaten status throughout the remainder of the competition, the three-time World Cup finalists would claim their first Grand Slam title in the Six Nations era, with their last undefeated run to the crown coming in the 1998 Five Nations.
Such a rich vein of form represents France’s remarkable turnaround in fortunes under the guidance of Galthié, who took over as the national side’s head coach from Jacques Brunel following last year’s exit from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.
France wasn’t the only top-tier nation to receive a boost up the world rankings, as Scotland’s 17-0 win over Italy in Rome over the weekend lifted them ahead of Japan into eighth place for the first time since last September.
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Other climbers in the most recent update of the world rankings include Tonga, who benefit from Italy’s defeat to move into 13th, as well as the USA and Uruguay.
Both of those nations capitalised on Spain’s back-to-back Rugby Europe Championship losses to Georgia and Romania in consecutive weeks to move into 16th and 17th spot, respectively.
The world rankings take on extra importance this year as they will be used to determine the seedings for the group stages of the 2023 World Cup in France.
The draw for the next World Cup is scheduled to take place in Paris on November 30, with the rankings being used to separate the 12 automatic qualifiers – South Africa, England, New Zealand, Wales, Japan, Australia, Ireland, France, Italy, Argentina, Fiji and Scotland – from each other.
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'I said this is how good you can be, instead of how bad you can be'https://t.co/Tx6sscYLiQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 24, 2020
The 12 nations will be split into three bands of four teams, with the top four-ranked countries on the day of the draw going into Band 1, the next four highest sides into Band 2, and the remaining three outfits into Band 3.
Bands 4 and 5 will be made up by the remaining eight qualifying teams, which will be determined through regional and global qualifying processes over the next three years.
Teams can then only be drawn into a pool with sides from other bands, making it imperative for automatically-qualified sides to push for a top four or top eight ranking come the end of November to avoid a potentially tougher pool stage draw at the next World Cup.
As it stands, France’s fifth place ranking would place them in Band 2 alongside Wales, Australia and Scotland, which would mean they would be grouped with one of the world’s top four sides from Band 1 in either South Africa, New Zealand, England or Ireland.
France will continue their quest for Six Nations glory – and further promotion up the world rankings – next Sunday when they face Scotland at Murrayfield.
World Rugby Rankings Top 10
1 – South Africa (94.19)
2 – New Zealand (92.11)
3 – England (88.25)
4 – Ireland (84.91)
5 – France (83.86)
6 – Wales (82.79)
7 – Australia (81.90)
8 – Scotland (79.55)
9 – Japan (79.28)
10 – Argentina (78.31)
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments