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World Rankings: Ireland replace Springboks at Number 1
By Jon Newcombe
South Africa’s unbroken 11-month reign at the top of the World Rankings is over following their dramatic 29-28 defeat to Argentina in Santiago Del Estero on Saturday.
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The Springboks had replaced Ireland as the number one team in the world back in mid-October when Andy Farrell’s side suffered an untimely quarter-final exit at Rugby World Cup 2023.
But the situation has now been reversed with the Springboks’ rating falling to 91.77 points, which puts them in second 0.35 points below Ireland, who take over at the top with their rating of 92.12 points.
In ending a nine-game losing streak against the Springboks, Los Pumas have not only kept their slim Rugby Championship title hopes alive but also climbed above Scotland and into sixth in the rankings.
Argentina will go to Mbombela next weekend for the final round of the 2024 Rugby Championship five points behind the previously unbeaten Springboks in the standings.
Los Pumas were not the only team to make progress this weekend as Fiji have climbed up to ninth at Australia’s expense on the back of winning their sixth Pacific Nations Cup title.
Fiji produced a stunning second half performance to beat tournament hosts Japan 41-17 in the final of the Asahi Super Dry sponsored competition.
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The convincing win has improved their rating to 79.64 points, which only leaves them a third of a point behind Italy in eighth.
Despite a valiant fightback against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup, Australia lost 31-28 to the All Blacks and have fallen to 10th in the rankings. The Wallabies have been in that position before, firstly during RWC 2023, but have never been outside of the top 10.
New Zealand remain in third place but with a slightly improved rating of 88.70 points.
Japan, meanwhile, have been replaced in 13th by Samoa, who battled past USA to claim third place in the Pacific Nations Cup.
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Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
your befuddledness, king of moronia, ruler and blocker in chief of iwillblockyoustan,
I am honoured that you would, in your delirium, refer to your humble servant in a comment to a third party. How is it that I am so fortunate to have been elevated to an unpaid dwelling between your dull ears...
May I thank you for, once again, proving your undisputed position as king of moronia through your clumsy use of language, as well as your misplaced and no doubt unintentionally hilarious "mocking" of my grammar.
If I may be so bold, the following two lumps of coal stand out:
1. The correct reference to me in the context above, if you choose to use apostrophes, would be "The One's". "The Ones" is a reference to a grouping of some sort, e.g. "Terry24 and Ben Smith are the ones who ruin the otherwise intelligent conversation on this site."
2. The second point that I wish to raise, with great respect and humility of course, is the unfortunate statement "Disgusting given you're history". It should be "Disgusting, given your history".
I hope to have served you in some small way, your xenophobicness, although I doubt your ability to grasp the meaning of my remarks. After all, your title has been well earned. You're undoubtedly the king of dullards (among other titles, your blockingness).
Illiterate too? It's XENOPHOBIC, poephol! But thanks, now I've found the perfect way to silence you. BT. Let's see if it works.
I don't think English is 'The Ones' first language. His grammar is appalling. Is he a Boer translating from Dutch?
Ah the perfect conditions for the game against Ireland were responsible for that defeat. You really are mental aren't you?
A South African resorting to Xenphobic tropes. It doesn't bother me, it doesn't exactly suprise me either. (Disgusting given you're history). Run along! You've lost.
Congratulations on being #no2 Rugby Team, Terre Blanche ;-)
A South African resorting to xenphobic tropes?? What a surprise!!!! Run along, you've just lost.
You talking about the bog trotters again?
Your grammar is appalling muppet.
your ignoramusness, turdloaf the 24th, ruler of moronica,
Thank you, your thickheadedness, for your gracious response to my humble post. Truly, none but the grossest ignoranus would have reacted thusly.
wearenotworthywearenotworthywearenotworthy
I have muted Terry but can only imagine how insufferable he must be at present. Ben Smith and he ruin an otherwise decent site.
RP do not give a flying fk about being a decent site. Benny BS Smith is here because he is a clickbait magnet. Ignore him and he will go away.
RW, he seems to have disappeared - were you responsible? If so, thanks!!
Didn't read your word salad...a real muppet show, this one.🤡
This is what Chat GPT has to say about it, and I think it makes valid points:
Ireland has often been ranked as the number one team in the world, particularly ahead of major tournaments like the **2023 Rugby World Cup**, yet they’ve never made it beyond the quarter-finals in World Cup history. This has led to criticism of the **World Rugby ranking system** and questions about its fairness and accuracy.
### Key Issues with Ireland’s World Ranking:
1. **No Rugby World Cup Success**:
- Despite reaching the top of the rankings, Ireland has never made it to a World Cup semi-final. In 2023, after entering as the top-ranked team, they were knocked out by New Zealand in the quarter-finals once again. This contrasts with teams like **South Africa** and **New Zealand**, whose rankings often correlate with their World Cup victories.
- The World Cup is the pinnacle of rugby, and teams like **England**, **France**, and **Australia** have more World Cup success, yet Ireland’s ranking doesn’t reflect that.
2. **The Rugby World Rankings Formula**:
- **The current system** emphasizes results from regular-season matches, the **Six Nations**, and other international tournaments. Teams earn points for winning games regardless of the stakes, so teams like Ireland can rise to the top of the rankings due to consistent success in annual competitions like the **Six Nations**.
- While this system rewards consistency, it doesn’t necessarily account for the weight of **knockout tournament success**, like the Rugby World Cup, which is a different type of pressure and test of a team’s abilities.
3. **The Timing of Ranking Changes**:
- **World Rugby rankings** are dynamic, which means teams can peak in the rankings just before a major tournament, even if they haven’t proven themselves in that high-stakes environment. Ireland’s number-one ranking going into the 2023 World Cup is a perfect example, as they were in exceptional form throughout the **2022 and 2023 international seasons**, beating teams like South Africa and New Zealand in the lead-up.
- However, once they face the pressure of World Cup knockout rugby, they consistently fall short, which raises questions about the relevance of the rankings when it comes to measuring true championship pedigree.
4. **Flawed Reflection of Big-Match Performances**:
- Teams like **South Africa** and **New Zealand** tend to play their best rugby in high-pressure situations, which often comes down to **World Cup** knockout matches. Ireland, however, has struggled under similar circumstances, suggesting that regular season performance doesn’t necessarily translate to success when it matters most.
### Comparison with More Successful Teams:
- **South Africa** is the prime example of a team that may not always be ranked number one but has a proven ability to win **World Cups** (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023). They prioritize peaking at the right moments, even if it means losing a few games along the way in non-World Cup years.
- **New Zealand** is another team that has consistently been able to translate regular-season success into **World Cup** glory, especially during their 2011 and 2015 campaigns. They tend to hold higher rankings because their performances often carry through major tournaments.
### Flaws in the Rugby Ranking System:
1. **Not Weighted Towards World Cup Success**: The rankings formula places a similar value on every match, whether it’s a Six Nations game or a World Cup knockout match. There’s no extra weighting for **World Cup success**, which is arguably the most critical indicator of a team’s true strength.
2. **Short-Term Fluctuations**: The rankings can fluctuate heavily based on a few games in the lead-up to major tournaments, which often doesn’t account for long-term, sustained success in **high-pressure environments**.
3. **Match Importance Not Considered**: In a World Cup year, it’s often clear that teams like South Africa and New Zealand focus on peaking at the right moment. They may lose games in the build-up, but perform at a higher level during the World Cup. The rankings, however, don’t reflect this strategy.
### Conclusion:
While **Ireland**’s number one ranking reflects their **consistent form** in regular matches and tournaments like the Six Nations, it fails to capture their inability to perform at the highest level—**the Rugby World Cup**. Teams like **South Africa** and **New Zealand**, with their proven records in big tournaments, better represent what it means to be the top team in the world, regardless of their short-term rankings.
The World Rugby ranking system, while useful for tracking form, doesn’t adequately reward World Cup success or account for the fact that some teams excel when the stakes are highest. Because of this, Ireland’s top ranking, despite never reaching a World Cup semi-final, seems like a clear mismatch between **regular season form** and **championship pedigree**.
There is a term for all this: "choking". Very blunt but thanks for posting this to explain to all those who dispute Ireland's performance in RWCs.
The only mention of draws was SA and NZ compalining when they realized they were in the same group as Ireland and New Zealand. Ireland nor France didn't complain.
World Rugby siad they would fix for again (because two of the 'old boys in the club' NZ and SA complained).
Nothing to do with Ireland and you can be assured that if NZ OR SA had been eliminated in the QF the whining would be heard from Mars. We all know the whining when NZ don't get what they want. We all witnesses the whining when Ireland beat SA in the RWC and we all saw SA players trying to cheat a win by surrounding the ref in Durban after Kolbe dived.
Let's just have a fair draw as occurs in every single other global tournament. Your keys in the bowl scenario is best for your extended family's monthly love in.