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England face unprecedented World Rugby rankings fall

Henry Slade looks on dejected after the loss to Ireland /PA

France has the chance to reclaim their second-place position in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings this weekend, as the governing body has released the permutations for this weekend’s test rugby.

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Out of the top 20 teams, seventeen will be in action, with Georgia, Portugal, and Spain being the exceptions.

Currently, Ireland and New Zealand hold the top two spots in the rankings, but they won’t be able to earn any points in their respective games against Italy and Australia due to the points difference before home weighting is factored in. This presents an opportunity for France to climb up in the rankings if they manage to secure a win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

A victory for France and a draw or loss for Ireland against Italy in Dublin could also propel Les Bleus to the top spot.

In addition to a France victory, South Africa has a chance to become the world’s second-best team. To achieve this, they need to defeat Argentina by more than 15 points at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires, while also hoping for losses by Ireland and New Zealand with the same margin.

Elsewhere things could get hairy for Steve Borthwick’s England.

They’ve a chance to replace Scotland in fifth place if they defeat Wales in Cardiff and the Scots fail to secure a win. However, a loss by more than 15 points for England would see them drop to their all-time low ranking of eighth.

Meanwhile, Wales could equal their lowest-ever ranking of 10th if they lose by more than 15 points. Argentina also has an opportunity to climb as high as fifth place with a significant win against South Africa, but other match results need to favour them as well.

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Fiji, having returned to the top 10 after nearly four years, can continue their ascent with a victory against Japan. If they win and Wales loses, Fiji will secure the ninth spot.

Italy, currently outside the top 10, could move up to 11th with a victory and potentially climb even higher if other results go their way. Samoa and Tonga will face off, with the winner gaining a higher rank.

As for the lower rankings, Uruguay cannot improve their 17th position, but the USA has a chance to overtake them if they defeat Romania in Bucharest by more than 15 points. Moreover, if the Eagles win by the same margin, they will move above Portugal, the team that qualified for RWC 2023 at their expense.

Namibia could enter the top 20 if they win by more than 15 points, which would replace Uruguay and move them above Spain.

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Overall, this weekend’s Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up matches hold significant potential for rank changes, with France being the main contender to reclaim their second-place standing on the World Rugby rankings.

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Comments

34 Comments
S
Sean 724 days ago

Funny how all those southern hemisphere support slating the northern teams want to join the six nations. Who in the Irish team is a kiwi? And remember that he acknowledged his nationality and lineage in order to play for Ireland. Says a lot for the south.

C
CO 724 days ago

Bundee Aki, he's straight out of the Waikato chiefs and born and raised in Auckland. Not sure why you think NZ rugby wants to join the six nations or are slating the northern teams.

W
Warner 724 days ago

South will rise again , rankings mean jack at crunch time , WR and Northern Hemisphere invest billions in their attempt to win RWC is Six Nations stepping stone to RWC victory , I do not think so , if it were why only 1cup.

ABs were beaten in semis 2019 by England who deserved it and played well but to two big games in a row was a road too far. France have never won but appear most consistent RWC team.

As for Irish history will repeat they'll choke under pressure in there pool.

The wreckers could well come for the Pacific Islands they only need win against all odds to ruin pool play.

M
MA 725 days ago

Poor Conrad got dropped on his head recently. Forgive him for making absolutely absurd comments.

K
Karl 725 days ago

Agreed

C
CO 725 days ago

We keep hearing down south how the French and Irish are the two teams that have a hand each on the Webb Ellis but if they're so awesome why is half the Irish team Kiwis? If the French are so awesome what have they won? As a southern hemisphere fan we know the French and Irish can play good footy but we know the English are the team to be most concerned about in the north.

S
Sean 724 days ago

It must have been windy that day because your smoke signals were all wrong. Ireland are rubbish at football but consistent at rugby. Ask the all blacks.

W
Warner 724 days ago

England to watch for , um I just watched the most pathetic display of international tier 1 teams play Wales v England if you watched it , THATS WHY THE SOUTH HAS 8/9 CUPS.

F
Flatcoat 725 days ago

Fr are the team to be concerned about followed closely by Ireland.

I
Ian 725 days ago

So you reckon 2 out of 15 is half?

Did you even learn how to count?

f
fl 725 days ago

As an England fan who believes England have a very real chance of winning the world cup this year; what on earth are you on about?


Anyone who has watched any rugby recently knows that the French and Irish teams have both won quite a lot, and are much more concerning for their opponents than England are.

T
Tony 725 days ago

Far from half the team is Kiwi. Their current squad has 3 Kiwis, 2 Aussies, a South African, an American, and an Englishman. They also have a smattering of Northern Irishmen. So, at most, 1/4 of the team was not born in the Republic of Ireland, and an even smaller portion was not born in either Ireland or Northern Ireland. As for what France have won, they did win the Six Nations grand slam as recently as 2022, and lost only one game to Ireland in the 2023 iteration. England, meanwhile, ended up 4th, behind Scotland, France, and Ireland.

Having said all of that, I think we all know that the World Rugby rankings are for interest sake, at best, because anything can happen in the World Cup.

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J
JW 49 minutes ago
Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

Yes I was happy with the refs ruling of arrival (and that the tackled player wasn’t obligated to release the ball immediately) but if you see the wide angle you can note how Morgan dives to get there in time.


I don’t mind your (or the refs) view, but what Morgan said is accurate. Both Mils and Beaver agreed on the breakdown, and you will also get the same view from Aotearoa Rugby Pod guys for a pretty unanimous NZ view.

Sometimes when both players are low its a rugby collision and this is one of those times.

Not recently. In the SR finals and AB v Arg series weve seen players clearly bent 90 at the waist still be penalised, only when the attacker does something the ref sees immediate mitigation and rules a rugby incident. Tizzano didn’t offer that he was always in the position Morgan aimed to collect him in.


Happy to not throw the rule book at these situations but the precent is that they are in these situations.

many tries out wide the player is allowed to be tackled while diving

They are diving for the line, not to avoid being tackled.

“In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.”

You can read Nicks article for an updated discourse on this though.

30 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

But he was wrong, he had to take back what he said. But maybe this only happened because he came out and was honest with his initial plans?


He’s simply in a position where he should be far more professional.


I don’t really follow much media, especially SM, but again, I’ve not seen anyone complaining. Plenty of ridicule and pointing out things like it being disrespectful to the game, but as far as the English language goes, that’s not complaining. Nick Bishop for instance hasn’t been complaining, he’s simply saying Galthie made a bad decision for France’s prospects (which when the common reply is ‘thats how it is’).


Complaining would be views expressing that the FFR should have put the tour back a week so that all T14 finalists could attend. Complaining would be saying they’ve been robbed of seeing the worlds best stars. Complaining would be saying players can simply take extra weeks off from T14. I’ve only seen advice and suggestions that these are things France need to look-at-for-the-future.


Basically I tried to communicate with French fans because they don’t understand what’s being communicated. ALL reactions I have seen shared here by French supports have all seemed way over the top compared what I’ve seen expressed about this tour.

the players are expected to play in too many matches, for too many minutes, and need more rest and recovery time.

This is the message I have been sharing. So something needs to happen, whether thats France pull out of more Internationals or rest players from more domestic games, who knows, but I also don’t think what they have now is working. It’s obviously much better than 3-4 years ago, but they appear to want to work even harder at it like you say. Personally I’ve only seen LNR be reasonable, I hear much less of their other internationals being denied/influenced not to play, so I imagine that they will give even further (as I can’t really see France pulling out the other international windows as well).

147 Go to comments
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