As the dust settles on a riveting Six Nations championship, Ireland remains perched at third in the World Rugby rankings. Even though France staged a stunning 48-46 victory over England to clinch the Six Nations crown again, it's Ireland, not France, who tops the northern hemisphere in the global pecking order. Positioned just behind the top dogs, South Africa and New Zealand, Ireland's recent 43-21 triumph over Scotland was enough to edge their ranking points up to 89.07, maintaining a clear lead over the French.
France, despite their heroic performance in Paris, couldn't leapfrog Ireland, gaining 0.43 points to reach 87.46, leaving them still hungry in fourth place. Meanwhile, England, stung by their narrow loss, remains stagnant at sixth, their woes compounded by a drop of 0.43 points. Scotland, too, felt the sting of defeat, slipping slightly in the rankings after their loss to Ireland.
Wales finally found a reason to celebrate, snapping a painful 15-match losing streak in the tournament with a 31-17 victory over Italy. This win not only lifted spirits but also hoisted Wales one spot up to 11th, nudging ahead of Japan with an addition of 1.45 ranking points.
"Bielle-Biarrey has emerged as a lethal weapon for us,"
lauded French coach Galthie, giving a nod to one of his standout players whose performance has sparked considerable buzz.
As the table stands, the top ranks remain fiercely contested. South Africa continues to dominate at 93.94 points, with New Zealand not too far behind at 90.33. The middle of the pack sees Argentina holding firm at fifth, while Australia and Fiji round out the top ten, just above a struggling Italy.
The rankings tell stories of triumph, struggle, and shifting dynamics in international rugby. As teams regroup and refocus, the echoes of this year's battles will undoubtedly influence their strategies and preparations for the confrontations ahead.
World Rugby rankings (Top 15): 1. South Africa 93.94 2. New Zealand 90.33 3. Ireland 89.07 (+0.18) 4. France 87.46 (+0.43) 5. Argentina 84.97 6. England 83.91 (-0.43) 7. Scotland 82.90 (-0.18) 8. Australia 81.53 9. Fiji 81.14 10. Italy 79.64 (-1.45) 11. Wales 75.07 (+1.45) 12. Japan 74.09 13. Georgia 73.48 14. Uruguay 69.19 15. USA 68.26
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As the dust settles on a riveting Six Nations championship, Ireland remains perched at third in the World Rugby rankings. Even though France staged a stunning 48-46 victory over England to clinch the Six Nations crown again, it's Ireland, not France, who tops the northern hemisphere in the global pecking order. Positioned just behind the top dogs, South Africa and New Zealand, Ireland's recent 43-21 triumph over Scotland was enough to edge their ranking points up to 89.07, maintaining a clear lead over the French.
France, despite their heroic performance in Paris, couldn't leapfrog Ireland, gaining 0.43 points to reach 87.46, leaving them still hungry in fourth place. Meanwhile, England, stung by their narrow loss, remains stagnant at sixth, their woes compounded by a drop of 0.43 points. Scotland, too, felt the sting of defeat, slipping slightly in the rankings after their loss to Ireland.
Wales finally found a reason to celebrate, snapping a painful 15-match losing streak in the tournament with a 31-17 victory over Italy. This win not only lifted spirits but also hoisted Wales one spot up to 11th, nudging ahead of Japan with an addition of 1.45 ranking points.
"Bielle-Biarrey has emerged as a lethal weapon for us,"
lauded French coach Galthie, giving a nod to one of his standout players whose performance has sparked considerable buzz.As the table stands, the top ranks remain fiercely contested. South Africa continues to dominate at 93.94 points, with New Zealand not too far behind at 90.33. The middle of the pack sees Argentina holding firm at fifth, while Australia and Fiji round out the top ten, just above a struggling Italy.
The rankings tell stories of triumph, struggle, and shifting dynamics in international rugby. As teams regroup and refocus, the echoes of this year's battles will undoubtedly influence their strategies and preparations for the confrontations ahead.
World Rugby rankings (Top 15): 1. South Africa 93.94 2. New Zealand 90.33 3. Ireland 89.07 (+0.18) 4. France 87.46 (+0.43) 5. Argentina 84.97 6. England 83.91 (-0.43) 7. Scotland 82.90 (-0.18) 8. Australia 81.53 9. Fiji 81.14 10. Italy 79.64 (-1.45) 11. Wales 75.07 (+1.45) 12. Japan 74.09 13. Georgia 73.48 14. Uruguay 69.19 15. USA 68.26