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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Our preview of this weekend’s Super Rugby action is up! Are we going to have more upsets in store?
Latest rugby news
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Exeter forward Jannes Kirsten is the latest player to announce he is leaving the former Premiership champions.
- Freddie Burns: Departing Leicester Tigers fly-half ‘cherishes’ all he achievedon January 27, 2023 at 1:14 pm
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- Elliot Daly ruled out of Six Nations to add to England’s injury crisisby Tony Paley on January 27, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Saracens reveal versatile back will be out for 12 weeks Lawes and McGuigan remain doubts for Scotland gameEngland’s Six Nations injury crisis took another turn for the worse on Friday when it was revealed Elliot Daly has been ruled out of the whole campaign with a hamstring injury.The versatile back had already withdrawn from new head coach Steve Borthwick’s training camp earlier this week, but his club Saracens have now confirmed he will be sidelined for three months and therefore miss all of the tournament. Continue reading…
- Jack van Poortvliet: ‘I’ve always had battles with myself. Now I manage it’by Robert Kitson on January 27, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Channelling his hatred of losing has helped Leicester’s scrum-half go from fourth choice at his academy to a rising star with EnglandJack van Poortvliet was 15 when they told him he was not going to make it. Leicester’s age-group selectors felt there were bigger, better scrum-halves out there and, for a while, the farmer’s son from Norfolk was inconsolable. “It was everything to me and I was absolutely devastated. I remember the other boys at school trying to pick me up. I was so glum and shed a few tears. It was tough.”So when you see Van Poortvliet, still only 21, running out for England in this year’s Six Nations championship do not make the mistake of thinking he was always the chosen one. The one destined to score a try on his England debut in Australia last summer. The one who could play international rugby for the next decade. The long-term heir apparent to one of his schoolboy local heroes, Ben Youngs. Continue reading…
- England hit with a Six Nations blow after Elliot Daly is ruled out of the competitionon January 27, 2023 at 12:55 pm
NIK SIMON: Saracens confirmed the centre will be sidelined for 12 weeks, having injured his hamstring during Sunday night’s defeat by Edinburgh in a huge blow to England.