The rugby world rankings below are updated after every weekend’s action.
International Rankings
| Pos | Team | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 94.19 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 92.11 |
| 3 | England | 87.80 |
| 4 | Ireland | 85.36 |
| 5 | Wales | 84.28 |
| 6 | France | 82.37 |
| 7 | Australia | 81.90 |
| 8 | Japan | 79.28 |
| 9 | Scotland | 78.58 |
| 10 | Argentina | 78.31 |
International rugby finds itself in an interesting place in the year after the 2019 World Cup. South Africa are the World Champions and deservedly top of the pile, with New Zealand dropping to second thanks to a number of below-par performances losses over the last few years. This year sees the 100th match between these two great rivals being played at Eden Park and it promises to be a phenomenal occasion.
England is breathing down their necks in third, and the World Cup finalists will feel they have a point to prove after losing in convincing fashion in the World Cup final. Coach Eddie Jones has two years left on his contract and will be laser focused on getting England up to number one.
In general terms, there is little separating positions four to seven in the rugby world rankings and you get the feeling it would be difficult to pick a clear winner if any of those teams had to play against each other.
Japan is full value for eight, but you get the feeling they are capable of a higher ranking than that. With a number of high profile matches lined up against higher-ranked opposition in 2020, this could be another big year for Japanese rugby.
Scotland and especially Argentina will be very disappointed with their current rugby world rankings of 9 and 10 respectively. With the Jaguares looking very good in Super Rugby, you would expect a stronger national team, considering it is made up of mostly Jaguares players. Time will tell if they have learned any lessons from last year.
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Latest rugby news
- Rugby World Cup: Argentina and Chile set for ‘historic’ Pool D matchon September 29, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Argentina are treating every match “like a final” as they prepare for their “historic” encounter with Chile on Saturday.
- Javan Sebastian determined not to butcher chance in Scotland front rowby Luke McLaughlin on September 29, 2023 at 5:22 pm
Tighthead prop says starting place is ‘a bit surreal’ as Gregor Townsend’s men target bonus-point win against Romania“The real world is scary,” says Javan Sebastian. The prop is reflecting on a career path that now brings his first start for Scotland, against Romania.In 2016, lacking a professional contract and fearing his playing career was over, the tighthead prop took a job at a Carmarthen butcher’s. Continue reading…
- Siya Kolisi: South Africa flanker says he ‘never dreamt’ of reaching 50 games as captainon September 29, 2023 at 5:03 pm
Siya Kolisi will captain South Africa for a 50th time in their must-win World Cup Pool B game with Tonga – something he “never thought would happen”.
- Eddie Jones Show Trial rolls on amid intensifying Wallabies blowbackby Robert Kitson in Saint-Étienne on September 29, 2023 at 4:41 pm
Australia’s abject World Cup has heightened frostiness on both sides of the barricades with uncertain future for head coachProfessional sport moves on fast. Particularly in Australia where this weekend is all about the eagerly awaited NRL and AFL grand finals. Will the Broncos beat the Panthers? Reckon Collingwood will tame the Brisbane Lions? In terms of comparative menus a potentially meaningless pool game between the Wallabies and Portugal on Sunday is the stale Vegemite sandwich no one really wants to eat.But the show must go on, particularly the Eddie Jones Show. Or the Eddie Jones Show Trial as it is becoming. Barely an hour currently goes by without another former Wallaby lobbing in his 10 cents about the head coach or the diminished state of Australian rugby in the wake of last Sunday’s lamentable 40-6 defeat by Wales. The blowback has been intense and is ongoing. Continue reading…
- We have to appreciate Wales and England for their Rugby World Cup runs so far | Ugo Monyeby Ugo Monye on September 29, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Being the first two teams to qualify for the quarter-finals is an impressive achievement when you think where they wereAs recently as a few months ago you would have got long odds on England and Wales becoming the first two teams to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. By this stage it should go without saying that they are in the kinder side of the draw, but for both teams it is an impressive achievement when you measure it against where they have come from this year.England have qualified for the quarter-finals with a game to spare, having dropped only one point and conceded one try, so whichever way you look at it, it is a great achievement. Every time I give England credit I hear excuses: “Well, Argentina were desperately poor” or “Well, Chile are no good”. But at some point can we just appreciate England for what they are doing? Continue reading…