Ireland up to fourth in world rankings

AS if England needed any more insult to the injury of losing a Grand Slam in Dublin, their defeat last Saturday also cost them fourth place in the latest International Rugby Board rankings...to Ireland.

The 24-8 victory for the Irish at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday did not prevent England from winning the RBS 6 Nations title but it meant Declan Kidney’s team leapfrogged above both them and France in the latest world rankings, issued yesterday.

So having finished third in the Six Nations table, Ireland have jumped ahead of the winners and runners-up to become the leading side in the northern hemisphere, although just 0.45 rating points separate the trio.