France have their sights firmly set on overtaking New Zealand in the official World Rugby rankings this weekend at home against England. Photo: Brian Lawless / AFP
France cut gap to Springboks in latest World Rugby rankings
The third round of this year’s Six Nations resulted in some changes to the top 10 of World Rugby’s rankings.
France have their sights firmly set on overtaking New Zealand in the official World Rugby rankings this weekend at home against England. Photo: Brian Lawless / AFP
The third round of the Six Nations 2022 resulted in some changes to the top 10 of World Rugby’s rankings, including improved positions for France and Wales.
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France kept their Grand Slam ambitions on track thanks to a first Six Nations win over Scotland at Murrayfield since 2014 and have also moved above England in the rankings to third.
France’s third consecutive victory of the campaign boosted their rating by 1.84 points to 87.84 – nearly a point more than England who only received a fraction over a quarter of a point for beating Wales 23-19 at Twickenham.
Now France have New Zealand in their sights with the All Blacks just 0.91 of a point ahead of them in second place in the rankings.
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Meanwhile, England had another player-of-the-match contribution from Marcus Smith to thank for their second win of this year’s Six Nations.
Smith kicked six penalties in a 23-19 win over a Wales side that outscored their hosts two tries to one and is now out in front as the Six Nations 2022 top points-scorer with 48 points for the competition.
Alex Dombrandt was the only England player to cross the whitewash in a scrappy game, while a strong second-half comeback brought tries for Wales through Josh Adams, Nick Tompkins and Kieran Hardy.
Despite the defeat, Wales find themselves higher up the rankings in seventh after swapping places with Scotland who drop to eighth.
Scotland suffered a bigger World Rugby rankings points deduction than Wales, which has resulted in their rating falling to 81.75. Wales are now on 81.99 points.
Lastly, Ireland remain in fifth place in the rankings as their 57-6 win over Italy in Dublin did not earn them any additional rating points.
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Top 10 in the latest World Rugby rankings:
1. South Africa – 90.61
2. New Zealand – 88.75
3. France – 87.84
4. England – 86.92
5. Ireland – 86.00
6. Australia – 83.92
7. Wales – 81.99
8. Scotland – 81.75
9. Argentina – 80.58
10. Japan – 78.26
