World Rugby rankings

Manu Samoa climbs up in World Rugby rankings

The Steve Jackson-coached side is currently in 16th place behind Tonga who is currently in 15th.

Samoa recorded its best position back in 2013 when they were ranked 7th before dropping to 17th from last year.

The ‘Ikale Tahi’ Tongan rugby side on the other hand, recorded its best position back in 2011 finishing in top ten and placing in ninth place.

Fiji has currently dropped from eighth to tenth place in the rankings.

The Rugby World Cup will be held from 20 September to 2 November in Japan.

     

Springboks take fourth from England after All Blacks draw

They're up to fourth place, ahead of England by just three-hundredths of a point and they have Handre Pollard's injury-time conversion to thank for that.

The Springboks looked set to lose a topsy-turvy contest at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, before Herschel Jantjies' try gave the Boks the chance to level which they did. 

The result means the last four tests between the two nations have all been decided by two points or less.

The All Blacks remain atop the standings with Wales and Ireland also in the top four. There were no other changes inside the top 10. 

England and Tonga climb rankings

After avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of hosts South Africa thanks to a 25-10 win over the Springboks in the third and final test at Newlands, England have moved up to fourth place in the World Rugby Rankings.

Owen Farrell’s first win in charge of the team was worth one and a third points to lift them above Australia and  South Africa. Another three points from the boot of Farrell, who kicked six penalties and a conversion for a 20-point haul, would have taken Eddie Jones’ men back up to third – their position at the start of the summer.

Top three rankings tussle in Dublin

France will fall below Japan for the first time in rankings history if they lose to Italy in Marseilles on Friday.

Those are just two of the possible permutations in the World Rugby Rankings this weekend as the Six Nations and the Americas Rugby Championship continue.

Round three of the Six Nations kicks off on Friday with France’s encounter with Italy in Marseilles, followed by Saturday’s double bill featuring Ireland versus Wales and Scotland against England.

Wallabies fall in rankings

Ireland, who beat Argentina 28-19 at the weekend, have pushed the Wallabies down to fourth place after Michael Cheika's side were thumped 53-24 by the Scots.

The defeat was Australia's biggest-ever loss to Scotland at Murrayfield, with the home team given a huge advantage after Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu was sent off just before halftime for a shoulder charge to the head.

It was Australia's second-straight defeat after going down to England 30-6 the week before.