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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Jon Doel

New World Rugby rankings table sees new number one as Wales still officially worse than Scotland

Ireland are the new number one ranked team in the world as the northern hemisphere season comes to an end.

The conclusion of the summer internationals has seen World Rugby publish the latest global rankings, with Andy Farrell's side top of the tree after the historic series win over the All Blacks. That result sees New Zealand remain in their lowest ever position of fourth, with coach Ian Foster clinging to his job.

France are second, with South Africa third. England are fifth, Australia sixth and Scotland remain above Wales despite losing their summer series 2-1 against Argentina. Wales finish the season in eighth place, just ahead of the Pumas. Wales came into the summer Tests in ninth place.

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Further down the rankings, Samoa are now 11th after shocking Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup final to win 23-20.

It all means the rankings have seen significant change over the past three weeks, with the Springboks knocked off the number one position they started the month in after that second Test defeat to Wales saw them lose significant rankings points. Ireland have risen from fourth to first.

France were number one last week but were overtaken by the Irish, who beat New Zealand 32-22 in Wellington.

The new World Rankings table

1 (↑2) Ireland 90.03 (+1.24)
2 (↓1) France 89.41
3
South Africa 88.61
4
New Zealand 86.93 (-1.24)
5
England 86.25 (+1.11)
6
Australia 82.17 (-1.11)
7
Scotland 81.93 (-1.06)
8
Wales 81.28
9
Argentina 80.45 (+1.06)
10
Japan 77.74
11 (↑13) Samoa 75.75 (+1.54)
12 (↓11) Fiji 75.08 (-1.54)
13 (↓12) Georgia 74.51
14
Italy 73.29

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