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Ireland could yet have last laugh on World Rugby Men's Rankings
By Ian Cameron
Ireland could theoretically return to the No.1 spot in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings this weekend, despite being eliminated from the Rugby World Cup last weekend by New Zealand.
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The All Blacks also stand on the precipice of regaining the coveted number one spot if they emerge victorious against Argentina, coupled with a potential South African loss to England.
The All Blacks, who have not held the top-ranking since November 2021, could see the Springboks tumble two places down to third in this dramatic scenario.
However, should both South Africa and New Zealand falter in their quests for a record fourth Rugby World Cup triumph, the top spot will be ceded back to Ireland.
A narrow defeat for the South Africans would still see them relinquish one place, slipping to second, with England surging ahead to fourth place, leaving New Zealand behind.
Argentina also have rankings skin in the game. A triumph against New Zealand would propel them up the rankings, with a potential leap to third place, a position they have not occupied since June 2008. To achieve this, they must secure a victory against the All Blacks by a margin exceeding 15 points, while hoping for an equivalent winning margin for England.
In such a scenario, England could vault to second place, while South Africa and New Zealand would tumble to fifth and sixth, respectively. For New Zealand, this would represent an unprecedented low, marking their worst-ever ranking of fifth.
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This seismic shift in rankings would be historic, as it would be the first time since the rankings’ inception in October 2003 that both South Africa and New Zealand find themselves outside the top four. England, in contrast, would ascend to second place, a ranking they have not enjoyed since February 2021.
The drama doesn’t end there. South Africa faces the risk of sliding down to fifth if they suffer a loss to England by a margin exceeding 15 points. On the flip side, victory for both New Zealand and South Africa would set the stage for a thrilling rematch of the Rugby World Cup 1995 final, with no changes in the rankings.
South Africa’s potential gain is limited, with a maximum increase of 0.46 points if they manage to overcome England, while New Zealand has the opportunity to narrow the gap by earning up to 0.65 points for defeating Los Pumas.
Meanwhile, back at rankings watch HQ…
Ian Cameron all I can say to you is “be better man”. You are now insulting your own Irish Team with all your desperate “what if” scenarios. Your team turned up to this World Cup to win it. They lost and now they’re out. Own it, move on and write something other than fantasy. End.
Lol…. you should have remembered this before your rants against the ref etc versus SA. Do as I say not as I do etc
Pfft
Still in that tricky first grief stage?.
Laughing at the hypocrisy of your response to SA beating you
I always get them confused. Is it delusion and then denial? Or the other way around?
Irish fans will positively be on the edge of their seats this weekend in hopes of their team taking the no.1 ranking in the world.
Is this really relevant. I suggest you say this in front of the Irish team, and see if you survive it. Are you running out of stuff to write? If there is an editor at rugbypass, a better job is required.
I remember Ireland being knocked out of the 2019 RWC but not any sensation at all about world rankings at the time or at any other point in time. Its infantile to even consider for a moment that the present headline we are commenting under has even a grain of substance. The only reason I am commenting here is to point this out. I know dozens of rugby fans, mostly Irish and we have never, that’s never, had a conversation about or messaged each other about world rankings. Laboratory rugby is of no interest whatsoever to true followers of the game. Only winners and those with some style have the last laugh. Reply if you wish but I won’t see it; over and out.
I know and concur that 99% of Irish fans are not sore losers and live real joyful lives. The 1% get jobs doing the only thing that brings joy to their daily grinds…writing fiction for RugbyPass and call themselves ‘experts’ for doing so.
Who cares
That's not much of a flex,and seems a bit desperate.
Ummmm.. ok uh
No last laugh here
Quick spoiler, Ireland didn’t get the last laugh, new zealand walked through Argentina
Where’s my Irish “sparring partner Turlough alias “Dry Lake’ ?
Must go have to see the second half to “ Finals “Practise” with the AB’s . I hope they change into second gear soon.
Haven’t see a player crying at half time.
Don’t cry for me “Argentina”
The next ”Spectacle” will be enjoying ENGALND and South Africa ‘Tear each other apart” Beautiful…..
Enjoying your utter hypcrisy and whinge fest after you blew it against SA.
Delusional
All Blacks enjoying a “Light Practise” against Argentina. 20.35 gone.
Looks like All Blacks will post the biggest score ever in a semi Final
More of a cough than the last laugh 🤭 there is no last laugh on elimination.
In South Africa the coaches and players don't care about what people think about our players. It's why Rassie has had the guts to speak up about issues he feels World Rugby has been imposing, right or wrong you choose, but he doesn't mind facing the top dogs, he also is always being innovative and planning ahead. He doesn't just do what everyone else is doing. It's why when he did the famous 6-2 split for RWC 2019 and although people were up in arms, it really worked and then afterwards other teams starting using that as well.
If you look at England 2019 they made it to the final because their players were working their way towards a ABs knockout. Little did they realise that that would be a Semi Final. They had marginal depth of squad. That is why they fell significantly short of the pundits expectations that year.
They had a rough knockout run, playing Aus first then ABs and then finally Springboks. It was a step too far.
However, Springboks haven't got the same issues firstly because they don't treat any World Cup game as a breeze, concentrating on the game at hand rather than looking ahead. They also have prepared themselves, coaches and players, for about 5/6 years. This is not a game they take lightly. Unlike Eddie Jones, Rassie and Jacques prepare their own team, not necessarily the opposition. They tweak and adjust when it comes to facing each opposition. It is also why the team has won 3 times, hopefully a fourth.
If Springboks win this year, they will be boasting a 50% RWC success rate. Course that requires them to beat England and New Zealand.
I don't really know why they would sacrifice a potential Rugby World Cup title for a #1 World Rankings spot. I would much prefer the RWC Title, wouldn't you?
I'm picking that the Irish now know the true value of world rankings lol.
I don’t know a single fellow Ireland rugby supporter who ever had anything but derision for the world rankings. Ireland yet again failed to bring home the bacon from this RWC and we are only bemused by the meaningless world rankings. Its only ever journalists who exercise themselves about these trophy-less rankings.
The main priority for all teams is not the rankings race, it is going to be winning the Rugby World Cup 🏆🎖 especially for the AllBlacks! Everyone will always recognise/remember a World championship team, more than their ranking.
“ Go All Blacks, Go All Blacks, Go All Blacks! “
A Fan From Blenheim, Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 👍👍👍
Seriously I cannot see past South Africa and New Zealand final. England havent shown anything the springboks will lose sleep over (how farell stayed on the park for two reasons. 1. Dreadful high tackle. 2. Deliberate knock on). And the AB’s will cruise too the final. AB’s win final 26 - 12.
Lol they still won’t be world champs if they go back to number 1
Ireland could be the no 1 again. Why are we even talking about this senseless rankings
Gepeeze you bois love these scenarios where Ireland can beat the All Blacks- can I just say bois get a life won’t ya
Lol please as if anyone cares about the rankings
Far out just take the loss gracefully guy’s Ireland's loss is over they have no world cups on their jerseys just give the All Blacks their due already. Man so sour everyone looses now and then get over it.
What would you rather have in the cabinet - meaningless world ranking which changes regularly or the World Cup?
Why is the whole rugby world entertaining the idea of anything other than a SA Vs NZ final. No chance of anything else happening.
Watch the space
On paper - true. But last weekend none of the SH teams were expected to go through. 3 upsets…
I mean according to the NH and anyone not from Argentina, SA or NZ.
points mean prizes New Zealand would care a jot if they win same goes for South Africa if is not theses two teams in the final I will be shocked England have a slim chance. Argentina are already out and they know it they just won’t want to get pumped to death
Don’t speak too soon…..
Haha, “last laugh?” Sad little king of a sad little hill.
We live for the battles and the trophies, not the rankinga. All we realised the rankings are useful for, is to mess with the pool allocation.
Love your heading Ian, still “In your heeeead”🎶 then ae? rankles ya doesn't it to see that, when one or two from the victorious aren't so gracious.
W rankings are distorted as they’re worth double during a WC.
Therefore, the article is rather academic as rankings currently mean less than they otherwise could.
Ireland may take scant consolation if the unlikely, fanciful scenario arises whereby by both NZ & SA are eliminated from the semi’s. Mind you, the latter 2 will take none should this happen! I expect they’ll do their best to ensure it doesn’t.
I doubt that either NZ or SA will care a fig about standings should they go through to the final.
What a load of rubbish.
World rankings are meaningless, only statistics nerds and the deluded who think it matters pay them any attention.
Remaining first on the world instead of winning the world cup? HAH that's some ice cold consolation.
Hahaha the Irish bragged so much about being number 1 yet got the boot that's twice in a row now they were number one and gut the boot in the quarters
WE rankings are overrated. None of the teams give a hoot about them. Winning the semi and then the final for the two victor’s is all that counts.
Fed up listening about how we're the no1 team in the world. All we have to do is stay in the top 4 when the WC draw comes around again
My takeaway from this article is that if you lose matches by wide margins to lower ranked teams, you get demoted in the world rankings.
Might have been fun to do the maths to figure this out, but probably doesn’t rate a full article. Could’ve been included as a paragraph somewhere.
Don't think the Irish will be laughing. If you are no. 1 and haven't won the World Cup no one thinks you are no. 1. Still the Irish need something to cling on for the next 4 years. Their run is over. 6 Nations defeats are coming. SA and ABs lose in the semis? In other news flying 🐖 seen over Paris. What a pointless article.
No one really cares. It is getting to the final and possibly winning a fourth world cup that matters the most.