Rugby Power Rankings: Right now, Ireland deserve to be called No 1
NUMBER ONE: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Saturday March 16, 2024.
Ciarán Frawley’s last-gasp drop goal sealed a stunning win in Durban, ensuring South Africa had failed to win a series against Ireland for the first time. It was the latest thrilling instalment of the global game’s leading rivalry and Ireland have now won two of their last three against the Springboks.
Add in the 2022 series win in New Zealand and Ireland’s ability to pick up away victories in the southern hemisphere sets them apart from their European rivals.
That they went to South Africa and drew the series without Jamison Gibson-Park speaks volumes about the depth Farrell has unearthed, with full-back Jamie Osborne the latest to flourish.
Farrell does not pick his British and Irish Lions squad for around 10 months but at this rate it will be dominated by his Irish charges.
The reigning world champions and they did beat Ireland in Pretoria but on home turf they hold themselves to such high standards that Durban defeat will sting, particularly the manner in which they were outplayed in the first half.
Truncated tours make obvious sense so soon after a World Cup but a decider would be mouthwatering. Instead, the Springboks can take their frustrations out on Portugal before turning their attentions to trying to claim a first Rugby Championship title since 2019.
Compared to the other leading sides in the world rankings they have an ageing squad – and Faf de Klerk’s form at scrum-half will concern Rassie Erasmus – but that was a stick with which they were beaten between their two World Cup triumphs.
The ledger will show a 2-0 victory and Scott Robertson off to the best possible start but in both matches against England they were there for the taking.
Credit their ability to get the job done in both matches – and Beauden Barrett’s excellence from the bench – but it remains to be seen whether the obvious clunkiness can be shaken out of the system now that the Robertson era is up and running.Â
They look light at lock without Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick (who wouldn’t?) and the performances of Barrett raise an intriguing question following his return from a spell with Toyota Verblitz.Â
Much to like about their two performances in New Zealand – as well as the thrashing of Japan – but ultimately two defeats and two missed opportunities. In the positives column goes the blitz defence, the continued emergence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on to the world stage and a dogged determination imbued in them by Steve Borthwick.
Of the pressing concerns, the scrum is the biggest and to borrow from Borthwick, a tendency to play a little small in the final quarter. In mitigation, in both New Zealand Tests, England finished with particularly rookie sides and those players will benefit from the experience. But it is a worry that England’s replacements do not seem to be able to affect proceedings.
 “A very complicated week,” was the captain Baptiste Serin’s somewhat understated assessment of the buildup to France’s defeat by Argentina in the second Test. First Melvyn Jaminet was sent home in disgrace after a video surfaced on social media in which he made racist remarks.
Then two players, Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were charged with the aggravated rape of a woman. Against that backdrop it is little surprise that France lost 33-25 in Buenos Aires, having triumphed in the first Test and beaten Uruguay in midweek.Â
Joe Schmidt took on the Wallabies job aware of the monumental challenge that awaited him but back-to-back victories over Wales ensured a case of so far so good.
A back-to-basics approach, focusing on the fundamentals, is in keeping with Schmidt’s style and while there is a long way to go before the Wallabies are anywhere near to dining at the top table again, there are grounds for optimism with the New Zealander at the helm.
In Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Schmidt has a second-row around whom he can build a formidable pack. Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright all performed impressively in the backs, too.
Perhaps harsh to put them lower than their world ranking but hefty victories over Canada and the USA, with matches against Chile and Uruguay to come, only count for so much.
That Duhan van der Merwe has pulled level with Stuart Hogg as Scotland’s highest try-scorer is testament to the hulking wing’s continued finishing prowess, and Gregor Townsend has handed out a raft of new caps, including to the Sale duo of Arron Reed and Gus Warr.Â
Defeat by such an understrength France team was an inauspicious way for Felipe Contepomi to begin his tenure but while they didn’t make things easy for themselves in Buenos Aires, victory was a first on home soil since 2022. It was also a first over France since 2016 and will give Argentina hope that they can prove competitive at the Rugby Championship. In the victory over France, Argentina’s props shone with Eduardo Bello and Thomas Gallo (two) both scoring.
A disappointing defeat by Fiji at home was quickly put aside with a shock victory over Japan last weekend, compounding Eddie Jones’s misery in the process. It goes down as a feather in the cap for Richard Cockerill – against his former England boss – and if they were helped by a red card then clearly the former Leicester director of rugby is making an impact.Â
It is now nine straight Test defeats for Wales, who have slipped out of the top 10 in the world rankings. Warren Gatland will no doubt point to how callow his squad is and there were some positives in Australia, chief among them the performances of Dewi Lake and Rio Dyer, but an autumn campaign against Fiji, Australia and South Africa looks all the more difficult after two defeats by the Wallabies.
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