France Defeat Sees Ireland Back In Fifth

France have demoted Ireland to fifth in the current IRB World Rankings – thanks to their first win at Lansdowne Road since 1999, on Saturday.

The sides – who duelled out a 26-19 win in favour of les Bleus – have swapped places in today’s new Rankings, with Bernard Laporte’s men now fourth, and the Irish in fifth.

If Eddie O’Sullivan’s charges had lost by 15 points against the French – they would have slipped to sixth.

As it is, World champions England remain in sixth, despite their 39-7 defeat of Italy on Saturday, while Six Nations Grand Slam hopefuls Wales -46-22 conquerors of Scotland – stay in seventh.

Former Leinster coach Matt Williams watched his Scots improve in the second-half at Murrayfield yesterday, scoring three tries but they still drop to tenth in the Rankings, with Fiji assuming ninth place.

NEW IRB WORLD RANKINGS: Released Monday, March 14

(1) New Zealand 90.90 Ranking points
(2) Australia 88.58
(3) South Africa 85.78
(4) France 84.67
(5) Ireland 82.90
(6) England 82.81
(7) Wales 82.32
(8) Argentina 77.63
(9) Fiji 74.17
(10) Scotland 73.48