Latest World Rankings: England, Ireland and Italy all drop, Wales rise

March 01, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Wales have moved up in the World Rugby rankings following their victory over England in the Six Nations.

Wayne Pivac's side claimed a Triple Crown on Saturday and are now at their highest position in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for just over a year after claiming a 40-24 win.

Dan Biggar kicked Wales ahead in the fifth minute, though Williams just denied Mario Itoje an opening try after a charge down at the other end. Farrell restored parity after Ben Youngs' break resulted in an England penalty, but the visiting captain was soon left seething with referee Gauzere soon after.

England were given little time to set from a penalty restart, and Biggar's kick found Adams, who raced over in the corner. Farrell channelled his frustration as he slotted a long-range penalty between the posts, though another contentious call then went against the Red Rose as Williams went over. Louis Rees-Zammit's fumble in the build-up was adjudged to have gone backwards, and Biggar's conversion clipped the post on its way through.

England hit back when Watson forced himself through a crowd of defenders, and though Farrell missed the kick, he atoned with a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Hardy cruised through a gap to restore Wales' cushion, though Farrell's penalty pulled England to within seven points – the skipper then reached his milestone 1000 international points by converting Youngs' try. But with the scores level, defensive errors cost England, and in the space of eight minutes, Sheedy had struck nine points. It set the stage for Hill to add further gloss as he bundled over under the sticks to send Wales to the top of the standings in style.

Wales gained 1.86 rating points and move up to fifth in the rankings as a result of the win on the occasion of George North’s 100th cap for his country. Defending Six Nations champions England have now lost two of their first three games in this year’s Championship and fall to fourth – their lowest position since mid-August 2019.

Despite an emphatic 48-10 win in Rome, Ireland have been leapfrogged by Wales and they drop a place to seventh. The returning Johnny Sexton was typically influential, on point with his kicking and integral to slick attacks as Ireland made it 21 wins from their last 22 Six Nations meetings with Italy. Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors propelled Ireland to a 27-point haul in the first half, Ireland's best first-half total in a Test since February 2018, with CJ Stander and Keith Earls also getting in on the act to seal a routine triumph.

The heavy defeat cost the Azzurri one place in the rankings. In being overtaken by Samoa, they equal their lowest-ever position of 15th, last occupied in February 2019.