Argentina drop to ninth in World Rankings

Editor

The top four teams in the World Rugby rankings remain unchanged since England's rise to the second position a few weeks ago.

The All Blacks are firmly atop the Rankings and are 6.61 rating points clear of the Six Nations champions.

South Africa, after winning the three-match Test series against Ireland 2-1, and Australia, who suffered their first 3-0 series whitewash since 1971 on home soil, are in third and fourth position 9.78 and 11.67 rating points behind New Zealand, respectively.

Argentina dropped from fifth position to ninth after their 27-0 loss to France in Tucumán on Saturday while Wales replace Los Pumas and despite their 19-13 lose to the South Africa, Ireland move up one spot into sixth place.

France's brilliant 27-0 victory over Argentina sees them leap eighth placed Scotland into seventh, from ninth position while Italy's narrow 20-18 win over 18th placed Canada does not see them move from the 13th position. Canada are replaced by their neighbours the Eagles in 17th position.

Japan's 21-16 loss to Scotland in Tokyo sees them being replaced in the 11th position by Georgia, who defeated the 10th seeded Fiji 14-3 in Suva, and occupy the twelth spot.

The USA's 25-0 victory over Russia sees them move up one spot to 17th position while the loss for Russia means they drop out of the top 20 Rankings into the 21st position. 

Samoa replaced Tonga in the 14th position after the former beat latter 30-10 in Apia on Saturday which sees Tonga in the position 15.

World Rankings

1 New Zealand
2 England
3 South Africa
4 Australia
5 Wales
6 Ireland
7 France
8 Scotland
9 Argentina
10 Fiji
11 Georgia
12 Japan
13 Italy
14 Samoa 
15 Tonga
16 Romania
17 USA 
18 Canada
19 Uruguay
20 Namibia