England top World Rankings

New Zealand may be the bookies’ favourites for the 2003 World Cup but it is England who enter the competition on top of the Zurich World Rankings, according to the latest standings released today.

Clive Woodward’s men recorded victories over Wales and France in their recent tournament warm-up matches to cement their place at the top of the pile with Tri-Nations champions New Zealand following closely behind in second place.

England have led the standings since November 2002 when they claimed a clean-sweep of scalps from the southern hemisphere’s big-guns after accounting for the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa on successive weekends.

Their Grand Slam heroics in the ensuing Six Nations and a triumphant tour Down Under have kept England at the summit of world rugby, but New Zealand’s greater exposure to Australian conditions – coupled with an explosive back line – has won John Mitchell’s side the bookies’ nod.

Australia, the defending World Champions, lead the chasing pack with France, South Africa and Ireland trailing behind them, while Scotland occupy eighth place and Wales a lowly ninth – with both teams listed below Argentina.

Four years ago it was New Zealand who entered the World Cup as the number one ranked side with eventual winners Australia in second place, South Africa third, England in fourth while France were fifth.