Ireland Up The World Rugby Rankings

Ireland have moved up to second place in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2003.

Saturday’s 35-21 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff earned them 1.13 ratings points, putting them a fraction ahead of Australia who jumped two places to third on the back of their Bledisloe Cup triumph against the All Blacks.

The Nic White-inspired Wallabies gained 1.61 points to move on to 86.84 points, 0.05 behind the Irish and 1.44 in front of England, the only top six side not in action at the weekend, who remain fourth.

For New Zealand it was their first defeat since they lost to South Africa a year ago and a disappointing way to mark Richie McCaw’s record-equalling 141st test appearance. It also saw their lead at the top of the rankings cut to 5.83 points.

Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Juan Imhoff helped Argentina to an historic 37-25 win over South Africa in Kings Park, Durban and a gain of two full rankings points. Los Pumas are now within touching instance of France in seventh place, the gap between the two nations now down to 0.57 of a point.