The rankings after the Cape Town Series are as follows:-
1 New Zealand = 41 *
2 South Africa = 41 *
3 France = 29
4 Argentina = 24 #
5 England = 24 #
6 Fiji = 23
7 Samoa = 19
8 Australia = 18 #
9 USA = 18 #
10 Ireland = 17
11 Kenya = 15
12 Canada = 13 #
13 Scotland = 13 #
14 Spain = 9
15 Wales = 3 #
16 Japan = 3 #
Where the above list may be erroneous is that the site looked at only the Cape Town series when teams are equal ibn the number of ranking points achieved and not factors in for instance point scored and point differences, which may impact on the standings. Take for instance the following:-
* SA and NZ are equaled ranked on the log at 41 points each and NZ is placed at 1 and SA at 2. In the two finals the two teams met SA scored 20 points against the 7 points scored by NZ. In ranking the latter situation is normally borne in mind.
# I did not do a similar investigation as was the case in the SA - NZ situation - but factually the situation may also be different from what is reflected above.
However seen in the series as a whole the situation is that ultimately the total points count and the fact is that two players are on different rakings is no all that important. The fact is that NZ and SA are
* 13 points ahead of France;
* 17 points ahead of Argentina and England
* 18 points ahead of Fiji
Those are at this stage huge differences this early in the tournament.
