Ireland are not counting the match against Fiji this Saturday as a full international so there are no IRB ranking points on offer. However, that doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to retain eighth place in the world.
Ireland, currently on 79.04 points, will drop to ninth if Scotland beat South Africa at Murrayfield. If Scotland win by more than 15 points they will increase to 80.15, if they win by less than 15 points they will move just above of Declan Kidney’s team with 79.42.
If Samoa overcome Wales by more than 15 points they will leap above Ireland with 79.61 but Wales, currently ranked sixth, will drop below them with 78.13.
If, however, Samoa win by less than 15 points they will have only 78.79 meaning Ireland would still move above Wales on 78.95.
Teams get more points for beating a nation ranked ahead of them.
They also get more points for away victories.
Even if Argentina lose to France by more than 15 points next Saturday night they will remain ahead of Ireland on 79.82.
So, really, it is not just the threat of the Pumas on Saturday week but the results of Samoa and Scotland that can dictate whether Ireland stay in the second-seed bracket for next month’s 2015 World Cup draw.
The most significant movement after last weekend’s matches was France taking fourth seed off England after thrashing Australia 33-6. That result saw the Wallabies drop to third as South Africa moved up to second having beaten Ireland.
World rankings Top 10
Current IRB rankings
(previous ranking in brackets):
1(1) New Zealand 92.91
2(3) South Africa 85.50
3(2) Australia 84.82
4(5) France 84.58
5(4) England 83.09
6(6) Wales 80.60
7(8) Argentina 80.29
8(7) Ireland 79.04
9(9) Scotland 77.97
10(10) Samoa 77.14
