Ireland unlikely to beat the odds this time against Black Ferns

Still, the fact that Scott Bemand’s side are within mathematical reach of such elevated status on the ladder is testament to the strides taken by a team that didn’t even make the last World Cup held in 2022

New Zealand's Jorja Miller celebrates. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

There is a scenario this Sunday whereby Ireland would leap three places up the world rankings and into second spot.

How likely is that? A million to one. New Zealand would have to be beaten with 15 points to spare, Canada would need to lose by a similar margin to Scotland, and South Africa would have to take care of the French.