RUGBY/ World Cup: There was mixed reaction to Ireland's position of third in the world when the International Rugby Board's (IRB's) new rankings came out on Wednesday. Eddie O'Sullivan's side find themselves behind first-placed England and second-ranked New Zealand but ahead of Australia, France and South Africa.
England head the rankings with a total of 89.95 points out of a possible 100, just ahead of the All Blacks with 89.8 points, while Six Nations runners-up Ireland weigh in at third place with 83.92 points.
The IRB say the rankings were tested against a database of more than 4,500 international matches dating back to when rugby time began, 1871.
Former Wallabies prop and rugby commentator Chris "Buddha" Handy said it was crazy that the defending World Cup holders were ranked at number four considering the Irish have enjoyed only one Test win over Australia in the past 23 years.
"I just wonder which planet the IRB people are living on at the moment," said the former player, a reserve when Ireland beat the Wallabies in a Test series in 1979.
But two former Australian and New Zealand internationals based in Ireland believe players facing into the World Cup next month won't take much notice.
Mike Brewer, who played in the 1995 finals with the All Blacks and is now coaching Old Belvedere, would have Ireland placed at five but maintains that the rankings won't matter to any of the current players.
"The rankings don't matter. My top six teams would be England first, New Zealand, France, Australia and then Ireland. I'd actually have Argentina ahead of South Africa as well, given the turmoil there at the moment," he said.
"I don't think the players take much notice of it and I don't think it makes much difference what ranking you are."
Jim Williams, who played with Australia and is now a regular first-choice back-rower with Munster, agrees with Brewer. Williams believes that teams only look at the name at the top, England, and not the ones underneath.
"Quite honestly I'd only take notice of the number one team and I don't think too many would argue with that. The recent performances of Australia have not been too encouraging. It's a strange one to work out, I suppose, given the recent result but you don't take much notice of anything below first."
Noel Murphy, a member of the IRB Committee, defended the rankings, saying Ireland earned their position on merit.
"The rankings are based on results. They were done by the IRB technical committee. They gave it a lot of thought and they are happy with it," he said,
"I've no problems with it and it's wonderful that people are even discussing that we are three. It is tremendous for Eddie O'Sullivan, the players and the provincial coaches."
Part of the confusion arises from the way the rankings were arrived at, the explanation and graph given on the IRB website being so convoluted as to be difficult to understand.
