Ireland slip to eighth in IRB world rankings

IRELAND have dropped to eighth in the IRB world rankings on the back of their 20-9 loss to England on Saturday.

The loss was Ireland’s fourth in their RWC 2011 warm-up matches, defeats by Scotland, France (twice) and England resulting in Declan Kidney’s men not only surrendering their mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation in the rankings but sliding four places in total.

Eighth equals their lowest ever standing which they occupied for almost a year before embarking on their Six Nations Grand Slam winning campaign of 2009.

They are now the fifth highest northern hemisphere side in the IRB World Rankings, their latest defeat dropping them behind Scotland with France, England and Wales having already usurped them.

IRB Rankings: 1. New Zealand; 2. Australia; 3. South Africa; 4. France; 5. England; 6. Wales; 7. Scotland;8. Ireland.