Cardiff result boosts Irish ranking

Samoa’s victory over Wales last night has actually benefited Ireland, temporarily at least, in terms of the IRB world rankings.

The Test defeat for Wales, like Ireland’s last weekend their fifth in succession, has seen them fall below the Irish to eighth, pushing Declan Kidney’s team up to seventh. Today’s other games may see that change before the official rankings are updated on Monday but the message is clear — with the December 3 World Cup 2015 pool draw looming and a top eight ranking vital to securing a second seeding in group play in the tournament in three years, Ireland must beat Argentina in eight days’ time.

The victory for the Samoans over the Six Nations Grand Slam champions should serve as a warning to Kidney’s players that these autumn internationals should not be taken lightly. The saving grace for Ireland as they prepare to take on Samoa’s Pacific Island neighbours Fiji is that there are no world ranking points at stake. But if Scotland do the unimaginable today and beat South Africa that would pile further pressure on the Irish in terms of the rankings.