All Blacks ranked first as Ireland drop one

World Cup favourites New Zealand have overtaken England at the top of the IRB world rankings after their resounding 29-9 quarter…

World Cup favourites New Zealand have overtaken England at the top of the IRB world rankings after their resounding 29-9 quarter-final defeat of South Africa at the weekend.

Ireland have dropped yet another place, down to sixth, after defeat to France and are replaced by South Africa

Six Nations champions England had held top spot since the International Rugby Board (IRB) rankings began in September but have dropped back to second place after their unconvincing 28-17 defeat of Wales.

New Zealand jumped past England because their quarter-final opponents South Africa were ranked sixth compared with Wales' eighth before the quarter-finals, earning them more weighted rankings points for their victory than England.

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France have leapfrogged defending champions Australia into third place after their impressive 43-21 defeat of Ireland.

Australia drop back to fourth from third after their 33-16 defeat of ninth-ranked Scotland.

Rankings (collate as current ranking, previous ranking, country, ranking points):

1. (2) New Zealand 90.41
2. (1) England 90.24
3. (4) France 86.55
4. (3) Australia 86.20
5. (6) South Africa 81.23
6. (5) Ireland 80.53
7. (7) Argentina 78.02
8. (8) Wales 76.92
9. (9) Scotland 76.36
10. (10) Samoa 73.46