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.
Latest blog posts
Our preview of this weekend’s Super Rugby action is up! Are we going to have more upsets in store?
Latest rugby news
-
Sinckler has been using the anger to perform for Bristol Bears after what has been an emotional week
on May 10, 2021 at 12:22 am
England prop Kyle Sinckler responds to his British & Irish Lions omission with a dominant display for the Bristol Bears against Bath, after what has been an emotional week
-
Mike Brown faces ban for his stamp on Tommy Taylor that could bring an end to his Harlequins career
on May 9, 2021 at 11:14 pm
Mike Brown’s 17-year Harlequins career could come to an abrupt end after he was sent off for a stamp on Tommy Taylor in the Harlequins’ high-scoring, thrilling victory against Wasps
-
Marcus Smith snatches dramatic win for 14-man Harlequins over Wasps
by Gerard Meagher on May 9, 2021 at 6:51 pm
Harlequins 48-46 Wasps Smith scores 28 points including late converted tryAnother week, another last-gasp match-winning score for Marcus Smith. No matter that Harlequins played more than half the match without Mike Brown – whose career at the club may now be over with a suspension looming following his red card – or that Wasps were full value for their six tries.Smith is writing his own scripts at the moment and he is developing a taste for the dramatic. He finished a thrilling contest with 28 points and his second try, with the clock in the red, pulled Harlequins level at 46-46 before his conversion settled matters. He set up three of Quins’s six tries too and levelled the club’s record for an individual points haul. Related: Dan Carter: ‘Rugby needs fun, it needs characters, or it gets stale’ Continue reading…
-
Premiership: Harlequins 48-46 Wasps – Marcus Smith stars for Quins in epic
on May 9, 2021 at 4:39 pm
Marcus Smith inspires Harlequins to a thrilling 48-46 win over Wasps, after Mike Brown’s red card left them with 14 men.
-
Josh Adams has ‘full blessing’ from his fiancee to miss the birth of their first-born
on May 9, 2021 at 2:59 pm
INTERVIEW BY ROB COLE: Adams’ breach of Wales team COVID regulations ahead of the Six Nations almost derailed his chances and then he had to deal with an even bigger issue.