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All Blacks back at No.1

Monday, November 16 New Zealand have regained the number 1 IRB World Ranking following the Springboks' 20-13 loss to France over the weekend coupled with their 20-6 win against Italy in Rome.

The All Blacks failed to improve on their ranking, but swapped places with the Springboks who took a nose-dive by losing to the French in Toulouse.

New Zealand now have a 0.55 point advantage over the side that beat them three times in the Tri Nations with the Wallabies more than four points adrift of South Africa after a 20-20 draw with Ireland in Dublin.

Despite drawing with Ireland at Croke Park, Australia increase their rating points by seven hundredths to 85.63.

The draw though means Ireland have lost their mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation with France assuming fourth place, albeit by mere thousandths with both sitting on 83.20 points.

England's 16-9 victory over Argentina sees them climb two places to sixth with the Pumas and Wales - the 17-13 conquerors of Samoa on Friday - both slipping one as a result.

Only a tenth now separates Wales and Argentina ahead of their meeting in Cardiff this weekend. Wales still have a cushion of more than four points over Scotland, who swap places with Fiji after beating the islanders 23-10 at Murrayfield.

There are also two further changes in the Top 20 of the IRB World Rankings with Japan and USA both climbing one place after victories over Canada and Uruguay respectively over the weekend.

Japan have taken over 13th place from Canada after the Brave Blossoms' emphatic 46-8 victory over their visitors in Sendai on Sunday. This is the highest position John Kirwan's side have ever occupied in the rankings.

There was better news for the other North American side in action as USA held off a spirited Uruguay fight back to win the first leg of their Rugby World Cup 2011 qualification play-off in Montevideo 27-22.

This narrow victory is just enough - by two hundredths - to lift the Eagles above Georgia into 17th spot. The Lelos were in action at the weekend, but only in a friendly against Argentina Jaguars in Tbilisi, a match they won 24-22.

IRB Rankings (Top 20)

1(2)  NEW ZEALAND    90.52
2(1)  SOUTH AFRICA    89.97
4(5)     FRANCE    83.20
5(4)     IRELAND    83.20
6(8)     ENGLAND    81.07
7(6)     ARGENTINA    80.49
8(7)     WALES    80.39
9(10)     SCOTLAND    76.06
11(11)    SAMOA    73.47
12(12)    ITALY    71.23
13(14)     JAPAN    69.68
14(13)     CANADA    68.76
15(15)    TONGA    67.53
16(16)    RUSSIA    67.17
17(18)     USA    66.87
18(17)     GEORGIA    66.85
19(19)    ROMANIA    64.85
20(20)    URUGUAY    61.07

With thanks to the IRB

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