Latest World Rankings

Australia have received a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s match against Wales in Cardiff after moving up the World Rugby Rankings without even kicking a ball.

Scotland’s 21-10 defeat to the same opponents at the same venue cost them 0.41 of a rating point and leaves their overall points tally at 82.61 – a quarter of a point less than the Wallabies – in seventh place.

All the points in the Doddie Weir Cup encounter at the Principality Stadium were scored in the opening 48 minutes, George North and Jonathan Davies finishing well for Wales with captain Stuart McInally dotting down in between for Scotland.

Wales’ first winning start to a November series for 16 years helped boost their rating to 86.35, still nearly four points shy of an Ireland team that produced a powerful second-half performance to down Italy 54-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Neither Ireland nor world number one New Zealand, who defeated Japan 69-31 in Tokyo, picked up any further rating points this weekend given the large gap between themselves and their beaten opponents.

England and South Africa remain in 4th and 5th respectively following England's win over the Springboks

Current World Rankings:

1. NEW ZEALAND - 92.96

2. IRELAND 90.12