Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
35 - 37
FT
Six Nations

Italy make historic leap in world rankings ahead of crunch Wales clash

Juan Ignacio Brex of Italy celebrates after scoring a try during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and Scotland at Stadio Olimpico on March 09, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Federugby via Getty Images)

Italy have been richly rewarded for their impressive 31-29 win over Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday by climbing to ninth in the world rankings.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gonzalo Quesada’s side stunned a Championship-chasing Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico, overturning a 22-16 deficit at half-time to record their first home win in the tournament in eleven years.

Off the back of a 13-13 draw with France in Lille in round three of the Championship, the Azzurri have moved up one place in the world rankings, leapfrogging Australia. This is the first time since the rankings began that Italy have been above the Wallabies, who in turn have slumped to their lowest-ever rank.

Video Spacer

Joel Kpoku on life in the very physical French Top 14

Current Time 0:00
Duration 3:58
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 3:58
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Joel Kpoku on life in the very physical French Top 14

    Italy will head to Cardiff in the final round of the Championship knowing that a win will see them climb above Warren Gatland’s side in the rankings into eighth place, which will be level with their highest-ever position.

    With Wales now the only winless team in the competition, and four points behind Italy in the table, they will go into the match on Saturday desperate to avoid earning the Wooden Spoon for the first time since 2003. The rankings permutations have only added extra drama to what is shaping up to be a pivotal fixture on many levels.

    Another rankings shake-up could occur on Saturday as fourth-place France host fifth place England in Lyon. With a slender margin between the two sides going into Super Saturday, England will be able to leapfrog Les Bleus and break into the top four with a win at the Groupama Stadium following their victory over Ireland in round four.

    Guinness Six Nations Greatest XV

    The experts have made their picks, now it’s up to you – pick your best all-time Guinness Six Nations XV with our Six Nations Greatest XV Picker.  Share and compare picks with the RugbyPass community!

    Related

    Clive Woodward calls out Ben Earl over post-match comments

    Sir Clive Woodward has criticised England's outstanding No.8 - Ben Earl - following his side's 23-22 Six Nations win over Ireland in Twickenham.

    Read Now
    ADVERTISEMENT

    South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

    The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

    Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

    Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

    Trending on RugbyPass

    1

    Fissler Confidential: Worcester to lure ex-England star out of retirement?

    2

    Henry Pollock switches position as Saints name 4 Lions for Saracens

    3

    Nick Mallett's interesting take on the Lions comes with a warning

    4

    Scott Robertson outlines considerations for 2025 All Blacks selection

    5

    Red Bull deal could open door to marquee Newcastle signings

    6

    Where are they now? Danny Care's Harlequins team in first start for club

    7

    Ex-England wing Marland Yarde announces retirement

    8

    'No offence to him, but I never knew how good he was'

    Comments

    1 Comment
    J
    JK 431 days ago

    Aus needs to bow its head in shame…Wallaby rennaisance never

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    LONG READ

    How long can South Africa hedge their bets in both hemispheres?

    While Rassie Erasmus' Springboks have conquered all in their path, the ex-Super Rugby franchises have struggled to deliver at the level beneath.

    LONG READ

    Bordeaux’s thrilling pretenders and salary cap changes threaten Toulouse supremacy

    A talented Bordeaux side and proposals to cut the salary cap and credits for Test players present a twin challenge to Toulouse.

    LONG READ

    Retiring Care and Youngs leave worthy legacy to emerging England scrum-halves

    England's new generation of No.9s will have to go some to match the class and durability of retiring duo.

    Comments on RugbyPass

    C
    Cantab 4 days ago
    Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

    Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

    4 Go to comments
    J
    James 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

    37 Go to comments
    d
    dw 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

    37 Go to comments
    d
    dw 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

    37 Go to comments
    d
    dw 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

    I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


    Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

    37 Go to comments
    R
    RedWarriors 5 days ago
    'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

    I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

    Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

    Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

    Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

    91 Go to comments
    J
    JM 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

    Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

    I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

    Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

    I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

    37 Go to comments
    R
    RedWarriors 5 days ago
    'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

    He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

    Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

    4 Go to comments
    O
    OJohn 5 days ago
    Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

    Hooray

    0 Go to comments
    C
    Carlos 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    He was also a YC magnet.

    37 Go to comments
    C
    Carlos 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

    37 Go to comments
    S
    Solenn Bonnet 5 days ago
    Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

    My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

    CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

    EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    WhatsApp.. +15617263697

    website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    Telegram.. +15617263697

    0 Go to comments
    M
    Mzilikazi 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

    37 Go to comments
    M
    Mzilikazi 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

    37 Go to comments
    M
    Mzilikazi 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


    Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

    37 Go to comments
    B
    BC 5 days ago
    Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

    I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

    1 Go to comments
    O
    Otagoman II 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

    37 Go to comments
    N
    NB 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    👍

    37 Go to comments
    N
    NB 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

    37 Go to comments
    N
    NB 5 days ago
    'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

    Hang on to Miz Carlos!

    37 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ 'If any Welsh side makes the URC knockout games, it will be worth applauding’ 'If any Welsh side makes the URC knockout games, it will be worth applauding’
    Search