World Rugby rankings: France close gap on Springboks and All Blacks

After a thrilling end to Round 5 of the 2021 Six Nations, France are still in contention for a first title since 2010.

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Saturday’s dramatic 32-30 win over Wales means they go into Friday’s rearranged encounter with Scotland, also in Paris, knowing that a bonus-point victory by 21 clear points will guarantee them the trophy.

Wales still top the table on 20 points with Ireland and France both five points behind, but they now need Scotland to do them a favour.

By denying Wales a Grand Slam, France have also moved up to third in the World Rugby rankings, with only South Africa and New Zealand ahead of them, while Wayne Pivac’s shell-shocked side drop from fifth to sixth.

The Springboks and All Blacks are still the top-two ranked sides in the world, despite South Africa not having played a single Test since the Rugby World Cup final in 2019.

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In Dublin, Ireland were on course to overtake England in the rankings until Jonny May’s late consolation try for the visitors closed the gap sufficiently to prevent them slipping lower than fourth. Ireland move up one to fifth as a result of their convincing 32-18 victory in Dublin.

The opening match of ‘Super Saturday’ went to form with an emphatic 52-10 win for Scotland over Italy.

It concluded Italy’s worst-ever Six Nations in terms of points and tries conceded and they finish the campaign ranked one place lower than when they started it in 15th.

As heavy favourites, Scotland did not get any additional rating points for the victory and they remain in ninth place in the rankings.

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TOP 10 IN THE LATEST RANKINGS:

1. South Africa – 94.20
2. New Zealand – 88.95
3. France – 86.17
4. England – 85.44
5. Ireland – 84.69
6. Wales – 83.44
7. Australia – 83.08
8. Argentina – 80.31
9. Scotland – 80.12
10. Japan – 79.29

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