Ireland climb World Rankings
Ireland have climbed one place in the latest IRB World Rankings after their home victory over Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Ireland’s 26-3 victory over a Welsh side bidding to become the first to win three successive titles in the Six Nations era means that two sides swap places with Joe Schmidt’s team now sixth and Wales seventh.
This was the only movement as a consequence of the Six Nations with England’s 20-0 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield strengthening their position in fourth and France remaining fifth after a 30-10 win over the lower ranked Italians had no impact on their rating of 82.05.
The only other match that did result in a positional change was Spain’s 11-6 victory over Belgium in Madrid in Division 1A of the European Nations Cup, a competition which doubles as the region’s qualification process for the 2015 World Cup.
Spain climb one place to 21st as a result, regaining the place they lost to neighbours Portugal after a 25-28 loss to Russia on home soil the week before. The defeat also sees Belgium slip one place to 28th with Chile the beneficiaries.
The two other European Nations Cup fixtures saw Georgia and Romania enjoy victories on the road in Portugal and Russia to remain unbeaten in the competition and leading the race to secure the Europe One and Two qualification places for the 2015 World Cup.
Georgia ran out 34-9 winners over Portugal in Lisbon to inch closer to Canada above them in 15th, while Romania have narrowed the deficit slightly to their rivals after a 34-3 win over 19th-ranked Russia in Nebug.
IRB World Rankings – Top 20:
(Last week's position in brackets)
1(1) New Zealand 93.81
2(2) South Africa 89.34
3(3) Australia 86.88
4(4) England 85.18
5(5) France 82.05
6(7) Ireland 81.05
7(6) Wales 79.10
8(8) Samoa 77.34
9(9) Argentina 76.44
10(10) Scotland 75.26
11(11) Fiji 74.21
12(12) Tonga 73.21
13(13) Italy 73.13
14(14) Japan 72.06
15(15) Canada 70.75
16(16) Georgia 69.57
17(17) Romania 68.66
18(18) USA 67.41
19(19) Russia 61.20
20(20) Uruguay 60.77
