The impact of rugby's global power shift on the All Blacks, England and the World Cup
Rugby looks to be undergoing a major power shift, judging by the release of the latest international rankings.
The World Rugby data was made public this week with little fanfare, but it appears to signal a big change for the international game.
Four northern hemisphere teams won the second matches of their three-test series against southern hemisphere opponents last weekend, taking those series to deciders which will be played across three continents on Saturday.
At the same time, France completed a sweep of their two-test series against Japan in Japan, using a relatively young squad with an eye to the World Cup they will host next year.
New rankings reflect those successes while hinting at a wider shift in rugby's balance of power a little more than a year out from the World Cup.
Since the ranking system was introduced, southern hemisphere teams mostly have occupied the top spots: New Zealand held the No.1 spot for most of the first decade.
France have risen three places and now top the rankings list for the first time after winning 11 consecutive tests including the Japan series, a test against New Zealand last November and a Six Nations Grand Slam.
Ireland rose four places to No.2 ahead of World Cup champions South Africa, who moved from second to third. New Zealand are now fourth, the lowest ranking the All Blacks have occupied since the system was introduced prior to the 2003 World Cup.
England have moved back into the top five after their second test win over Australia, who dropped steeply into sixth place. Scotland and Wales also have improved their rankings after wins last weekend over Argentina and South Africa respectively.
News of New Zealand's record-low ranking dropped on a team already under extreme pressure after their first loss at home to Ireland.
The 23-12 defeat in Dunedin has the All Blacks scrambling to avoid an unprecedented series loss at home, which would likely force New Zealand Rugby to review the performances of head coach Ian Foster and his assistants.
"If I'm honest we haven't paid too much attention to that," All Blacks captain Sam Cane said.
"We've got enough on our hands digesting what happened at the weekend and then focusing on the game to worry about things like world rankings.
"That takes care of itself when we're playing well. I don't even understand how the rankings work exactly but it's certainly a goal of ours to make sure we get back to No.1."
England beat the Wallabies to level that series and relieve some pressure on Australia-born head coach Eddie Jones, whose method, selections and personality have made him a regular target for the British media.
"I like it. I think it is fantastic," he said.
"I love my mother ringing me up in the morning saying 'Are you going to get sacked? When do you have to move? Are you going to come back to Australia?'
"My poor mother. But I don't mind it because I have made the choice to take the job and that's always going to happen because there's infatuation with sacking coaches now, isn't there?"
The question of why northern hemisphere teams now are out-performing southern rivals, at home during end-of-year tours and during current mid-year series, has many possible answers.
It seems likely the quality of domestic competitions in Britain and Europe now is higher than in the southern hemisphere, where Super Rugby has been diminished by the departure of clubs from South Africa.
Many leading coaches have moved north in the absence of opportunities at home and their influence is seen in the improvement of skills among northern players.
Southern hemisphere teams have won eight of the nine World Cup titles to date - England edged then defending champions Australia with an extra-time dropped goal in the 2003 final to break the southern sequence.
But as the 10th World Cup approaches, teams from the north appear to hold the upper hand.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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