Ireland 3rd in official rankings

Trojan

The IRB have released their new world rankings, and due to our victories over some of the highest ranking teams lately, we're 3rd! Excellent


RANK COUNTRY R ATING

1 England 89.95
2 New Zealand 89.8
3 Ireland 83.92
4 Australia 83.81
5 France 82.85
6 South Africa 80.92
7 Argentina 80
8 Samoa 74.67
9 Scotland 74.42
10 Wales 74.24
11 Fiji 72.45
12 Tonga 70.08
13 Italy 69.98
14 United States 68.42
15 Romania 67.73
16 Canada 66.21
17 Georgia 63.8
18 Japan 62.68
19 Uruguay 62.65
20 Portugal 62.03

They explain the rating system somewhere on the site.

Al.

xern

Yeah the aussies were really P1ssed off about this!!
Ireland beat the worlds finest like tonga and samoa, and the aussies are beated by minnows like New zealand and South Africa!!!!

uberwolf

ah well oct and november will sort out all the rows about this!

Trojan

Originally posted by uberwolf
ah well oct and november will sort out all the rows about this!

For sure. In more way than one too - under the IRB rating system, RWC games have twice the weighting of normal internationals.

mojonta

Number one now

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/115549/ireland-3rd-in-official-rankings

Not sure why a thread from 20 years ago has been resurrected.

But to make it relevant one thing that the rankings from September 2003 show, compared to today, is that there has basically been no change in the rugby hierarchy. The Tier 1 teams from 2003 remain the Tier 1 sides in 2023.

Japan are probably the one team that have made progress since then. Other than that it's as you were.

Thrashssacre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120109156#Comment_120109156

I'm sure those posters from *checks notes* 2003 will be around shortly to thank you for the update......

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120109177#Comment_120109177

Same poster has bumped a few other zombie threads.

It is but gap has closed a bit. the top 10 need to play more games against the next 10 if we want to get more competive sides and that includes travelling to these sides not just playing them at home.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120109332#Comment_120109332

Yeah, I agree especially with the idea that Tier 1 sides should travel to Tier 2 sides. Ireland playing Georgia in Tblissi would be quite an occasion.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120109374#Comment_120109374

Totally. Georgia and all rest need far more games against the top 10. The highest number of full tests against any 6 nations side for Georgia is 5. thats outrageous. we will never grow as a sport if that doesnt change. Ireland have never played in Georgia. That needs to change. we've only ever played Russia in Russia because of failing to qualify automatically for the 03 world cup

Trojan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120109183#Comment_120109183

Fair enough!

mojonta, thank you for the update, 20 years later!

I think it's interesting that since they were introduced, the rankings have always lagged every so slightly - we were clearly No. 1 back in 2018, but ranked 2, then later 1 when we were clearly not. Now there's a strong argument that France is top, and we're probably duking it out with South Africa for second, and pipping them based on the last game. All that will be thrown out once the first whistle blows in the 6N.

I'd love to see the top tier nations having regular "A" games against the second tiers, competitive games that would help lift the profile of the sport and give those teams something to play for. Nothing beats playing the game to get better at playing the game.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128649#Comment_120128649

A games would be a start but full tests would be better. Every autumn the southern hemisphere sides should have to play a game against one of the ENC sides and in summer when we go down south we should have a game against other sides like every tour to Argentina should have a games against uruguay/Chile etc. In australia/nz play Fiji etc

Georgia and other wuropean s8des need far greater access to the top sides. But just don't seem to be allowed get enough games against top sides in world

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128649#Comment_120128649

i completely agree with your last point tbh. id love to see the SH teams bring slightly extended squads with them in november and play midweek/'A' games against Spain, Germany etc,.

Never will happen due to money/timing etc,. would be fantastic though

ionadnapokot

I do like a good zombie thread.

That World Ranking was just before 03 RWC. Eng had won the Grandslam walloping Ireland in the last match and went on to win WC.

Ireland should be doing the same this year.

If only it was that simple.