World rankings: Wales equal their lowest-ever position after loss to England
Wales' players sing their anthem ahead of their Test against England at Twickenham.
Wales have dropped one place in the World Rugby rankings to 10th spot, which equals their lowest-ever position, after they suffered a 19-17 defeat to England at Twickenham on Saturday.
It means that Warren Gatland’s team are now below Fiji in the rankings for the first time since January 2008. Wales’ rating has dropped by 0.51 points to 78.67 points which is just three-hundredths of a point behind Fiji.
Wales and Fiji have traded positions in the rankings with the Pacific Islanders the higher-ranked of the two teams for the first time in more than 15 years, sitting in ninth place and Wales in 10th.
Pool C set to be competitive at the World Cup
It adds more spice to an already competitive-looking Pool C at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France as four of the sides – Australia, Fiji, Wales and Georgia – are next to each other in the rankings in positions eight to 11.
Wales, who have been as low as 10th before, will be kicking themselves as they had an opportunity to end an eight-year wait for a victory over England at Twickenham but let it slip through their hands.
England scored a try that gave them hope while they were down to 12 men – with Owen Farrell red carded and Ellis Genge and Freddie Steward in the sin bin – and George Ford kicked the penalty that ultimately won them the game in the latter stages.
It shows how fine the margins in international rugby are that had Ford been off target and England suffered a defeat, they would have sunk to an all-time low of ninth place while Wales would have moved up to seventh.
However, England stay in sixth place and will be happy to clinch a win despite ill discipline which cost them four initial yellow cards (before Farrell’s was upgraded to a red under the TMO bunker review system).
Only once before in England’s long Test history have they been shown four yellow cards in a match – a 32-6 loss at home to New Zealand in November 2008.
Events at Twickenham were followed by another Summer Nations Series clash which was in the balance until its closing stages.
Scotland had a chance to move up to an historic rankings high of fourth place with a win against France in Saint-Etienne, but a late Thomas Ramos penalty clinched a 30-27 triumph for the home side.
The 0.23 points that Les Bleus picked up in avenging their loss to Scotland at Murrayfield the previous week were not enough for them to overhaul New Zealand above them in second position. But the gap between those two countries is now down to 1.55 points.
Scotland stay in fifth spot
That means Scotland stay in fifth spot with 2.48 points separating them from England.
In other action, Georgia recorded their biggest victory and highest score in 25 years of playing Romania with a 56-6 triumph in Tbilisi.
However, the win did not improve the Lelos’ rating or position in the rankings due to the large points differential between the teams even before home advantage was taken into consideration.
Similarly, Tonga were not rewarded for beating lower-ranked Canada 28-3 in the first match of their two-Test series in Nuku’alofa on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s first Test in Faro ended in a 46-20 victory against USA – the side they edged out in the race for the 20th and final spot to Rugby World Cup 2023 back in November by winning the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai.
Back then, a 16-16 draw was enough for Portugal to take their place in Pool C as the final qualifier but this time around there was clear water between the teams as Os Lobos beat the Eagles for the first time in four matches between these sides.
Portugal are in 16th place as a result of the victory but with an improved rating of 68.61 points, while the USA drop down a spot to 18th with Uruguay the side to benefit.
The final game of the weekend saw Chile and Namibia play each other for the first time at Test level. Both teams scored four tries but it was the African side who came out on top, 28-26.
Chile drop two spots in the rankings to 24th with Namibia remaining 21st with an improved rating of 62.61 points.
Current World Rugby rankings
1. Ireland 91.82
2. New Zealand 90.77
3. France 89.22
4. South Africa 88.97
5. Scotland 84.01
6. England 81.53
7. Argentina 80.86
8. Australia 79.87
9. Fiji 78.70
10. Wales 78.66
11. Georgia 76.23
12. Samoa 76.19
13. Italy 74.63
14. Japan 74.29
15. Tonga 70.29
16. Portugal 68.61
17. Uruguay 66.63
18. USA 66.22
19. Romania 64.56
20. Spain 64.05
With thanks to World Rugby
