14 - 50

46 - 7

Tomorrow

07:00

Tomorrow

09:30

Tomorrow

09:30

Saturday

05:00

Saturday

06:30

Saturday

07:00

Saturday

07:00

Saturday

07:00

Saturday

07:05

Saturday

09:00

Saturday

09:30

Saturday

09:30

Saturday

11:45

Saturday

12:00

Sunday

07:00

Sunday

07:00

Sunday

09:00

Sunday

12:05

It's official, Ireland are the No.1 team in world rugby

By PA

18 Jul 2022

Keith Earls of Ireland and Peter O'Mahony of Ireland share a moment following the International Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland at Sky Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Ireland have moved top of the men’s World Rugby rankings following their stunning Test series triumph against New Zealand.

Andy Farrell’s team clinched the three-match series following a 32-22 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.

And they have swapped positions with France to take top spot for only the second time since World Rugby launched its rankings system 19 years ago.

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell after winning historic series in New Zealand | Ireland post-match press conference

Ireland have also broken the 90-point rating mark for a first time, standing on 90.03, with France 0.62 behind.

Ireland previously headed the rankings for a two-week spell in September 2019.

World champions South Africa remain in third spot, with New Zealand fourth, while England stay fifth, just 0.68 adrift of New Zealand.

There is then a 4.08-point gap to Australia in sixth, with Scotland seventh, Wales eighth, Argentina ninth and Japan 10th.

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Time was, the rugby world cast envious glances at Antipodean coaching. Now, Australia and New Zealand are fishing desperately for new ideas.

221

LONG READ

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

The departures of Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake has only fuelled the sense of anger and uncertainty over the future of Ospreys.

LONG READ

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Extreme precision at the ruck allowed Glasgow to remove the jackaling juggernauts from the Toulouse arsenal.

Comments on RugbyPass

Mitch 48 minutes ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Sreasons greetings Nick

After the November internationals, I was hoping there would be a review into how Australia coaches defence across the board, with the upshot being a move to a much more aggressive defensive approach being implemented across the board from Wallabies level to age group teams and the 4 super rugby sides.

...

221 Go to comments

SB 1 hour ago

Tony Johnson's Super Rugby Pacific team to watch in 2026

Interested to see if Pledger can win the starting 9 jersey over Fakatava.

1 Go to comments

SB 1 hour ago

Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Ramos 5th with only 8 games played.

4 Go to comments

SB 1 hour ago

Hoskins Sotutu signs three-year deal with Newcastle Bulls

Top signing.

1 Go to comments

SB 1 hour ago

Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026

Devon Flanders should be in this list.

1 Go to comments

Ben 2 hours ago

Something all rugby fans need to remember... particularly Bok fans

Absurdly happy to see that comment. 👆

95 Go to comments

fl 4 hours ago

Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

DDA looked less dominant this year than he has done previously, and will be 35 at the RWC. Esterhuizen only started 3 games this season (against Wales, Italy, and in the losing effort against Australia). If, at 31, he isn’t viewed by Rassie as a starting 12, I doubt he will be at 33.

19 Go to comments

fl 4 hours ago

Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Yeah depth at 12 is likely to be a bit of a problem! Still think backrow is the bigger problem.

19 Go to comments

EF 5 hours ago

Dans la forme de sa vie, Matthieu Jalibert peut-il vraiment relancer le débat en équipe de France ?

Is there any possibility to add an “extra player” to the Top100 MRP 2025? And why not Matthieu Jalibert

1 Go to comments

Benji7 5 hours ago

Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Would LOVE to see Paul de Villiers given a chance at 6 in 2026. He’s been outstanding. Plus after Kolisi and Van Staden, who else is there?

Looking forward to seeing Elrigh Louw back, hopefully at 7! Great replacement for PSDT.

...

19 Go to comments

Benji7 5 hours ago

Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

The Boks have DDA and Esterhuizen at 12. But 2026 is the year they need to start playing Ethan Hooker at 12. It’s his 1st choice position too.

19 Go to comments

cw 6 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He is certainly no Skelton. His dimensions are similar to Eben at 204 cm / 120kg v 203 cm / 122kg. Though I take your point - the Boks churn out monsters in huge numbers. But we do have our own collection of monsters Tamaiti at 196 cm / 144 kg (combined 340) and Tosi at 193 / 140 kg (333) are as big as the biggest Bok monsters eg Snyder is 207cm / 130kg (337). And the point of having Vaa’i or Holland or Barrett at 4, 5 and or 6 and combined with others like Tuipulotu

and Parker - is that in “physics” theory at least their combined power matches that of the Boks - and provides the base for a rock solid scrum. And from memory, when Vaa’i or Holland were on the blindside, the NZ scrum did not go backwards.

...

221 Go to comments

cw 7 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Cannot disagree - but it is interesting to note in those games the Boks were materially bigger (@ 38 point weight and height diferential where as the ABs and Boks were about even at Eden Park) and the English 6-2 combination was a clear point of difference. I also think the Boks had a blinder.

And to your last point - isnt that weird? An AB pack of the present dimensions should be at least achieving parity with both the Boks and Poms. Your post England game article highlighted a potential problem

...

221 Go to comments

cw 7 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

This is a huge piece of data NB! Thanks for sharing it. It absolutely confirms our intuitions about how Robertson is wanting to play the game. It is based on set piece dominance and hence the “powering” up of the forwards. The ABs midfield strategies are so muddled its no wonder the team struggles. Look forward to your post Christmas analysis re attack!!

221 Go to comments

JW 7 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

What makes you think Jake is?

221 Go to comments

JW 7 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He will have a clause, they all do these days.

221 Go to comments

JW 8 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

With PMCD and I sorry.

New Zealand had more meters carried but England had more meters gained, so England had a much narrower margin between the two, or more specifically, because NZ had a much wider margin (gained only half or meters carried) that it proved England had a good rush D (the topic of discussion).

...

221 Go to comments

cw 8 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.

...

221 Go to comments

cw 8 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Yes agree - this AB’s performance in London was bewildering - it should have been their statement game - and it was - just the wrong statement.

221 Go to comments

JW 9 hours ago

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I just saw Kemeny’s try on the highlights lol

What a run him and Genge, love the leagues where you can still see those sorts of plays.

...

221 Go to comments

It's official, Ireland are the No.1 team in world rugby

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell after winning historic series in New Zealand | Ireland post-match press conference

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell after winning historic series in New Zealand | Ireland post-match press conference

{{item.title}}

Comments

Latest Long Reads

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Comments on RugbyPass

Search

It's official, Ireland are the No.1 team in world rugby

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell after winning historic series in New Zealand | Ireland post-match press conference

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell after winning historic series in New Zealand | Ireland post-match press conference

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Five bold possible debutants for the All Blacks in 2026

All Blacks legend Brad Thorn on the family bond that led to Test coaching debut

Fissler Confidential: Northampton face Anthony Belleau battle; Sharks eye Irish 9

Rejuvenated Freddie Steward rising to the challenge after contract snub

Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Top 5 players of 2025: England's Red Roses

Debuts from heaven and hell: All the newcomers to Test rugby in 2025

Comments

Latest Long Reads

The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

How Glasgow found the bleu-print for beating Toulouse

Comments on RugbyPass

Search