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Wallabies rise up World Rugby rankings following Ireland's back-to-back Six Nations losses
The Wallabies have moved one place up the World Rugby rankings after Ireland opened their Six Nations campaign with back-to-back defeats for the first time.
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Not since the Irish went winless in the 1998 Five Nations had they lost their first two games of Europe’s premier international tournament, and they have suffered on the World Rugby rankings as a result.
Their 15-13 defeat to France at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, their first home loss to Les Bleus in a decade, has seen Andy Farrell’s side, who also lost to Wales the week beforehand, drop from fifth to sixth on the rankings.
In doing so, they have swapped places with Australia, who haven’t played since their draw against Argentina in their final 2020 Tri Nations match in December.
They aren’t the only victims of their ill-fortune in the Six Nations, as Scotland have also dropped a place after their 25-24 defeat at the hands of Wales at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
It was a disappointing blow for the Scots, who – like Ireland – found themselves a man down for just under half an hour after prop Zander Ferguson was sent from the field for a reckless clean out of Welsh prop Wyn Jones at the breakdown.
The result came a week after Scotland stunned England 11-6, beating their British neighbours at Twickenham for the first time since 1983 to give Gregor Townsend’s men a glimmer of hope for their campaign ahead.
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Instead, they have fallen to fourth place on the Six Nations standings and to eighth on the World Rugby rankings, with Wales – who remain undefeated this year after a dire 2020 season – leapfrogging them into seventh spot.
The Six Nations will take a break this weekend before the teams return to action next week, with Italy hosting Ireland in Rome, Wales facing off against England in Cardiff, and France playing Scotland in Paris.
Victory for Wales might be enough to see them surge up the rankings again, depending on how Ireland fare at the Stadio Olimpico.
A win for the Irish in the Italian capital, as is expected, could also see them reclaim fifth place back off the Wallabies, who they trail by only 0.77 points.
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England, meanwhile, will be eager to defeat the Welsh, not just because of their arch rival status, but also their third place ranking is under threat from the French, who will be favourites to beat Scotland at the Stade de France.
Do that, and France will be in contention to reach their highest ranking since March 2012 – provided England lose to Wales.
Should the latter happen, the English would challenge the All Blacks for their second place on the rankings, although they would still the world champion Springboks by a considerable margin.
Alternatively, victory for Scotland over Les Bleus may propel them ahead of Wales, and possibly even Ireland and Australia, given their away status for that match.
World Rugby rankings (1-10)
1. South Africa (N/C) – 94.20
2. New Zealand (N/C) – 88.95
3. England (N/C) – 87.49
4. France (N/C) – 86.42
5. Australia (+1) – 83.08
6. Ireland (-1) – 82.31
7. Wales (+1) – 82.11
8. Scotland (-1) – 81.29
9. Argentina (N/C) – 80.31
10. Japan (N/C) – 79.29
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
27 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
26 Go to comments