Ireland rise to 3rd in IRB World Rankings
20/11/2006 - 13:41:18Ireland are up to third in the IRB World Rankings after their comprehensive 21-6 win over Australia at Lansdowne Road yesterday.
It is the highest ranking the team has been accorded since October 2003.
The rise is a result of the two back-to-back victories over Southern Hemisphere giants - they beat South Africa the previous weekend.
The Irish have now leap-frogged both those nations after the Springboks lost again at Twickenham on Saturday.
New Zealand have stretched their lead to eight rating points after their win over second-placed France.
Ireland are marginally ahead of Fourth-placed Australia, followed by South Africa, and Argentina.
England remain seventh, with Scotland eighth, Wales ninth, and Samoa tenth.
