Italy's reward for their Six Nations win over France is a one place jump to ninth in the latest rankings, a position they have not occupied since 2007.
Tries from captain Sergio Parisse and prop Martin Castrogiovanni helped Italy to a 23-18 victory over France at the Stadio Flaminio on Sunday, a result which lifts the Azzurri above Wales.
The defeat was a costly one for France, as they surrender their position as the leading northern hemisphere nation in the rankings with England assuming fourth spot by just over four tenths.
England ran out 38-18 winners over Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday but that result had no impact on their rating, with the Scots remaining in their lowest ever position of 12th after failing to end a 30-year wait for victory over the Auld Enemy at the venue.
Ireland were the other winners in round one, withstanding a Welsh second-half fight-back to win 30-22 at the Millennium Stadium. They remain sixth, just over two rating points behind France and now 3.62 points above Samoa and Argentina below them.
The defeat - their eighth in a row since completing the Grand Slam last March - means Wales equal their lowest ever position in the rankings, one they last occupied after losing to Fiji at RWC 2007.
The opening weekend of the Six Nations, though, was not the only tournament to have an impact on the IRB World Rankings with Division 1A of the European Nations Cup 2014 kicking off as well.
With the Europe 1 and 2 qualifiers for RWC 2015 being determined by this competition, and the six sides ranked between 17th and 22nd in the rankings the matches were expected to be tight and so it proved with six points the biggest margin of victory.
That was secured by Romania, who ran out 19-13 winners over Portugal in Lisbon. That result, in tandem with Russia beating the higher ranked Spain 13-9 in Sochi, means that Romania climb one place to 18th.
Russia also rise one to 19th with Spain falling two places from their highest ever ranking as a result of the defeat. Their Iberian neighbours Portugal slip one place to 23rd with Uruguay the beneficiaries.
The other match pitted Georgia against Division 1A newcomers Belgium in Brussels with the defending champions expected to prove too tough for their hosts.
However, the Lelos needed a 71st minute try from replacement Levan Chilachava to secure the 17-13 victory and close to within two rating points of USA above them.
Belgium remain 21st with the defeat, although now only three tenths above Uruguay.
IRB World Rankings
(Previous position bracketed)
1(1) New Zealand 90.08
2(2) South Africa 86.94
3(3) Australia 86.87
4(5) England 83.90
5(4) France 83.49
6(6) Ireland 81.33
7(7) Samoa 78.71
8(8) Argentina 78.71
9(10) Italy 77.82
10(9) Wales 77.27
With thanks to the IRB
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
If England had to face Australia or Wales tomorrow I wouldn't be losing any sleep, I'll also add that, if England were in the top 4, they could still have drawn one of France Ireland or Argentina.
The world rankings are becoming a little irritating - if Australia or South Africa were in the 6N instead of Scotland, would they expect a GS? probably not, Australia were stuffed by France, and scraped past England Wales and Italy (arguably luckily if you believe such things). Their ranking is based purely on a set-up where their own tournament allows each team to lose to their opposition with little effect on their points whilst victory is the same. The 6N sides, who have a greater disparity in ranking, can lose a game away to a Scotland or Italy with a huge negative impact whilst a home victory makes little difference. These rankings will only carry relevance if the NH sides play SH sides more.
(I should add that I don't begrudge anyone their ranking its just the fixture calendar doesn't really make the system particularly fair.)
Posted 14:57 05th February 2013
APV1 says...
DOH!
I see what you mean now. And there was me about 6 months ago harping on about a top 4 place, too.
Double-DOH!
Posted 11:27 05th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
There's still a massive gap between the old "Big Three" and the rest. The world rankings aren't lying for a change either.
France crash and burn but they've already done what they needed to do to secure 4th seeding in the RWC. Personally, I've very happy with 5th seeds anyway. Countries who find themselves in weak RWC pools usually crash out in the knock out stages. You need that test before it becomes do or die.
Posted 09:30 05th February 2013
waz4before says...
man, look at Wales go .....
Posted 05:16 05th February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
For any team with aspirations to win the world cup the pools are largely irrelevant - if you can't beat the likes of SA or Wales at home then you can't have any real hope of winning the whole thing.
A hard group should mean a well blooded team (assuming they get through it) and so no surprises later on. Plus it gives a team confidence.
If England do have aspirations to win it (and they should by 2015) then the group could be a good thing.
Maybe we should be thinking that by then we should be considered the favourites and it is the other teams in the group will be worrying about us - that is the aim and the psychology I would use!
Posted 22:44 04th February 2013
kybone says...
APV1- I hink the point being made is that we wouldn't have been in the same pool as Australia.
Posted 19:50 04th February 2013
firepower says...
WELL DONE SAMOA!!
OFA ATU
FROM YOUR USO IN TONGA
Posted 19:22 04th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
A tough pool is good if you have depth in the squad. Clarmont look like favourites for the HC after their pool and Leinster should have gone through too if Munster had not had everything stacked in their favour. If Wales are weak by the WC we can go through as best runner up if not pool winners.
Posted 17:38 04th February 2013
TVaddict says...
@APV1
But if we'd been in the top four we wouldn't of have to have played any of the big three, surely that's a good thing?
Posted 17:35 04th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ LondonWasp - even with a GS, we'd struggle to break into the top 3, so it wouldn't have made much difference. I suppose the big issue is where Wales are and could be.
Posted 16:51 04th February 2013
physiodan says...
To win the WC you almost have to win every game so it doesn't really matter which pool you are in.
Posted 16:18 04th February 2013
ross552 says...
If only England had done this a few months ago. What a difference it could make to 2015
Posted 16:15 04th February 2013
LondonWasp says...
does make you wander why the decied on World Cup pools so early on....
Posted 16:05 04th February 2013