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New Zealand suffer rankings repercussions as dust settles on Rugby World Cup 2023
By Ian Cameron
As New Zealand grapples with a narrow 12-11 defeat in the Rugby World Cup final, and the repercussions were felt in the recent update of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, which was officially updated today (Monday, October 30th).
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Under Ian Foster’s leadership, the All Blacks lost 1.76 points, causing their new rating to settle at 89.80 points. This adjustment resulted in New Zealand relinquishing their second-place standing to Ireland, who started the weekend in third spot.
South Africa, the reigning champions, maintained their grip on the number one position. Their rating improved to 94.54 points, extending their lead at the summit to 1.75 points.
England, fresh from their hard-fought 26-23 victory in the bronze final against Argentina, made significant gains in points. Nevertheless, they remained in fifth place, with a gap of 2.27 points separating them from fourth-placed France.
Argentina maintained its seventh-place position, narrowly edging out Wales with a reduced rating of 80.68 points.
Shifting focus away from the Rugby World Cup 2023, the Rugby Europe Trophy season commenced with Sweden securing a 48-37 victory over Czechia. This win, marking Sweden’s second consecutive triumph over Czechia in as many years, propelled them to 37th place, surpassing Tunisia and Paraguay, while Czechia remained in 35th.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s 40-24 triumph over Turkey in Pool C of the Rugby Europe Conference had no bearing on the rankings, as the winning team already held a rating 12.41 points higher than their opponents before accounting for home advantage.
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In the Victoria Cup, Uganda got their campaign off to a winning start by defeating Zambia 30-8 at the King’s Park Arena in Kampala on Saturday. Uganda’s rating, currently standing at 42.75 points, remained unchanged as a result, securing their position in 42nd place, while Zambia found itself 26 places further back in 68th.
How do you suffer a ranking drop if you loose a final….what on earth
They should follow the tennis ranking system
Rankings “repercussions” lol. Seriously? “It’s the RWC stupid”.
Do you think they care about rankings?
I read somewhere that there is never an ultimate winner in the rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks, just the next battle. A bit like ying and yang. An infinite rivalry. Even though we are world champions we are still behind 69 to 40 or something, so I hope we can catch up and bring it back to a 50% win ratio over the next decade or so.
Its a waste of time having a world champion.Its whoever wins on the day.World champions loose games to other teams.
‘Your only as good as your last test’,
as the truism goes… ie ANY half aware rugby awareness tells that’s it 3 test series, if not then at least the lesser 2 or 1 tests, between similarly world ranked that are the only meaningful system of anointing the ACTUAL RUGBY WORLD CHAMPION… as always , AT THAT MOMENT. So thank goodness (finally!) for the new world ranking test system to avoid useless lop sided tests in an already crowded rugby calendar & to focus actually competitive tests between comparatively similar ranked teams with continuous competitiveness backed up with a promotion/relegation system to help promote lower teams. Competitive competition improves performance, not lopsidedness. The RUGBY World Cup tournament is just that, 'tournament competition'; which means, especially in the RWC, you've won a couple of competitive games (for the top teams)...ie on a couple of days. Great! But unfortunately that gives you the right to market yourself ' World Champion s' for the next 4 years... no matter how often you get thoroughly beaten after it, eg many teams (eg ABs, Ireland, France have a history of choking at the RWC ' tournament' only to repeatedly beat the 4year ' world champions'. Labelling the RWC winner the ' world champions' for the next 4year ' is purely a marketing construct & label, ie a a commercially reliable marketing cash cow for 4 years because …. BUT FAKE. They’re the winner of a 1 game on 1 day of 1 tournament they’re winner of a tournament… but like a test series. & great, good win. But it’s always been true that your as good as your last game. The only true champion of World Rugby's is the winner of the proposed test series & finals of the top World Rankers. That a true title.
So congratulations to the Bok the champions of the Rugby World Cup... AND ALSO current champion of World Rugby RANKINGs.
... but its momentary, as always, your champion status is only as good as your last test.
NZ, Ireland, France, England (?) await you Bok in 2024.
South Africa need to push on to even greater heights at RWC 27, we have the bulk of our squad in tact to the job.
Ireland may have lost a QTR but it is testament to the standard of rugby they have consistently played that at the end of the World Cup they are in second. Time to focus on an attempt at back to back Slams. There are a few retirements but such is the depth that the standard can be maintained and improved.
Key to keep the focus on building at grass roots level and keeping the standards of coaching and knowledge rising.