Ireland Up To Fourth In World Rankings
Ireland’s eight-try 51-24 win over Italy may not have have been enough to see them lift the Six Nations title, but they have risen to fourth in the IRB World Rankings on the back of the result.
Ireland’s fourth win of the 2007 Six Nations has seen them jump from fifth to fourth, swapping places with South Africa. The Irish are now on 85.31 rating points – just 0.24 behind Australia in third place.
Despite retaining the Six Nations trophy by beating Scotland 46-19, France remain on 85.66 rating points. The gap between les Bleus and New Zealand is still just under nine rating points.
England’s 27-18 loss at the hands of Wales at the weekend has seen them slip back to seventh place in the latest release of rankings. The Welsh have leapfrogged Italy into eighth, while Scotland are unmoved in tenth.
England’s lapse at the Millennium Stadium means Argentina, Ireland’s opponents on their forthcoming summer tour, have reclaimed sixth place.
IRB WORLD RANKINGS (Released on March 19):
1(1) NEW ZEALAND 94.59 Rating Points
2(2) FRANCE 85.66
3(3) AUSTRALIA 85.55
4(5) IRELAND 85.31
5(4) SOUTH AFRICA 84.71
6(7) ARGENTINA 79.61
7(6) ENGLAND 79.35
8(9) WALES 76.26
9(8) ITALY 75.39
10(10) SCOTLAND 73.94