Only one Six Nations loser in World Rugby Rankings

A thrilling final round in the Guinness Six Nations did little to affect the World Rugby Men’s Rankings when taken in isolation, with Wales the only team to improve their position after their much-needed 31-17 win over Italy.

That victory – their first in 1,099 days in the championship – moved them above Japan and into 11th place, the same position that they started the tournament in, albeit their rating has increased from 74.23 points at the start of February to 75.07 points now.

Italy also finished the tournament with the same ranking as when they started it (10th), but with an improved rating of 79.64 points – up 0.66, thanks to home wins over Scotland and England.

But three of the teams actually climbed the rankings, with Ireland moving up to third and champions France also gaining one place to end up in fourth.

Scotland, who won both of their home games against England and France and went to Cardiff and beat Wales, were rewarded for a top-half finish in the Six Nations with a two-place rankings rise.

Gregor Townsend’s team started the Six Nations on 80.22 points in ninth and finished the tournament in seventh on 82.90 points.

England suffered the ignominy of being the only team to go backwards from a rankings point of view, even if they fronted up so well in losing the Six Nations finale 48-46 in Paris last night.

Having been the best nothern hemisphere team when things kicked off, England have slipped three places from third to sixth, with their rating falling by five-and-a-half points, from 89.41 to 83.91.

World Rankings, as they stand:

1. South Africa – 93.94
2. New Zealand – 90.33
3. Ireland – 89.07
4. France – 87.46
5. Argentina – 84.97
6. England – 83.91
7. Scotland – 82.90
8. Australia – 81.53
9. Fiji – 81.14
10. Italy – 79.64
11. Wales – 75.07

*World Rugby officially update the rankings at noon on Monday