Ireland Slot Into Second Place In Latest World Rankings
Ireland are up to second place in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since August 2015, following their 28-8 win over Scotland and England’s narrow loss to France in Paris.
The two results combined not only saw Ireland claim the NatWest 6 Nations title with a round to spare – but also brought about a swing of 2.52 rating points in their favour.
Jacob Stockdale was Ireland’s try-scoring hero once again as the Ulster winger’s first half brace helped them on their way to a 28-8 bonus point victory at the Aviva Stadium. In dotting down twice for the third match in a row, Stockdale became only the second player in the 137-year history of the Championship to score multiple tries in three consecutive games and the first to do since England’s Cyril Lowe in 1914.
Ireland are now on 87.85 points – over six behind the world’s number one team, New Zealand, and 0.35 in front of England, who they face at Twickenham next Saturday as they go in pursuit of only their third Grand Slam.
Scotland’s defeat in Dublin saw them drop to sixth below South Africa in the rankings, while France are up two places to eighth as their 22-16 triumph over ill-disciplined England saw them gain 1.89 points, which was enough for them to climb above Argentina and Fiji.
WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS (as of Monday, March 12):
Last week’s positions in brackets –
1(1) New Zealand 93.99 rating points
2(3) IRELAND 87.85
3(2) England 87.50
4(4) Australia 85.49
5(6) South Africa 83.81
6(5) Scotland 83.80
7(7) Wales 83.07
8(10) France 79.44
9(8) Argentina 78.22
10(9) Fiji 77.93
11(11) Japan 75.66
12(12) Georgia 73.80
13(13) Tonga 71.87
14(14) Italy 71.13
15(15) USA 69.23