Poms hit new low
10 Nov 2009
England have dropped to eighth in the IRB world rankings after losing to the Wallabies at Twickenham.
The Poms have been in free fall since winning the 2003 World Cup, and while they reached the final of the 2007 event they have regressed badly under manager Martin Johnson.
England’s latest setback has allowed Wales to move up to seventh in the rankings, despite their 19-12 defeat to New Zealand.
Namibia are the biggest climbers of the weekend with a two-place climb to 23rd after they beat Portugal 12-9.
IRB rankings (top 10)
1. South Africa 91.69
2. New Zealand 90.52
3. Australia 85.56
4. Ireland 83.27
5. France 81.48
6. Argentina 81.29
7. Wales 80.38
8. England 80.27
9. Fiji 76.52
10. Scotland 75.23
Click here for the full rankings
35 Comments
10 Nov 2009, 09:17 am
wow…poor!
10 Nov 2009, 09:27 am
If you look at the competitive matches in the last 3 years:
RWC ’07 – 2nd place
6N ’08 – 2nd place
6N ’09 – 2nd place
Next year we’ll finish 1st or 2nd in the 6N again and 1st or 2nd in the RWC in 2011. When it matters, we’ll be there or thereabouts, we always are.
10 Nov 2009, 09:35 am
This doesnt mean much.
The reality is that on any given day – any of the Top 8 sides stand a good chance of beating the other sides. I do reckon the Top 3 are a level above the rest, but amongst 4-8 – it is much of a muchness.
10 Nov 2009, 09:36 am
The great thing about this list is it shows how the utter dominance of the “big five” has been diluted over the last few years which is fantastic for rugby.
It wasn’t so long ago (last 10-15 years) that the mere thought of Ireland, Wales or Argentina sustaining a challenge to the traditional powers was laughable.
While there’s still a gap, particularly between the SH nations, it’s an encouraging position for the game when the Boks genuinely worry about their capacity to beat Ireland, Wales is pushing the ABs all the way and the Argies have made the French their *******.
10 Nov 2009, 09:38 am
Time to buy more Saffas to bolster your squad…..the cricket administrators did it and it worked
10 Nov 2009, 09:42 am
So when Ireland destroy Australia and SA where will we end up?
10 Nov 2009, 09:43 am
We read earlier FDP played the equivalent of 23 full matches this year. How many matches would an England international play? (the non-injured special type).
I’ll never write England off at any world cup.
10 Nov 2009, 09:47 am
Rankings are a wonderful thing for administators..such a pity rugby isnt played on paper!
10 Nov 2009, 09:50 am
#8 My50cents: But results are put on paper, and not on the field.
10 Nov 2009, 09:53 am
Go Namibia!!! Hehe
10 Nov 2009, 09:54 am
#8 My50cents:
10 Nov 2009, 10:08 am
Any of the top 8 teams could beat each other on their day.
10 Nov 2009, 11:10 am
Fantastic news!! Can’t wait to see them drop out of the top 10! They have always been a bunch of over-rated half-wits. I love to see their former colonies bash the **** out of them, well done Aussie! Martin Johnson is running out of excuses fast. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving bunch of blokes! As far as I’m concerned they can all go and join their useless brothers on the dole. Put that in a consentration camp you ********!!
10 Nov 2009, 11:11 am
#2 Big Hit: Sorry bighit we cant crow about a second place in the six nations, to put it into perspective Ireland won the grandslam , france , wales and England all ended up on the same number of wins. There used to be a time when we always won the six nations but now we some contented with a second place based on the “improvment in performance”
Competitive games should be classed as playing the top teams in the world not average six nations teams. Look at woodward he saw the games against SA, Aus, NZ as the main games to perform in ands win and look we beat then 12 games in a row and then went on to win a world cup. Sadly we havnt come close to beating these teams lately and our displays are getting worse hence the drop in rankings. We cant hide behind a lucky second place in the world cup and hope they can do that again in 2 years. If we could beat the All blacks i would take that any day over a second place in the six nations!!
10 Nov 2009, 11:17 am
Could not have happened to a nicer rugby playing nation.
10 Nov 2009, 11:30 am
#2 Big Hit: Sure, people in their right mind will not ever write off England. I just have a sneaky suspicion they will need someone else do them big favours in 2011, as they themselves cannot beat neither New Zealand, nor South Africa.
10 Nov 2009, 11:31 am
Shame shame pommies. Maybe they won’t qualify for RWC 2011! Damn, they played in the final in RWC 2007 which means they automatically do. Oh well there’s always hope for RWC 2015 in Japan!
10 Nov 2009, 11:33 am
#14 west: just stating facts as they stand West, in competition games we’re there or thereabouts. I wouldn’t want a win over NZ this month if it meant we finished 3rd in the 6N. I want us to do well in competitions and win trophies, Woodward primarily targeted Grand Slams and the World Cups, that’s where the glory lies.
It would be great if we could target autumn internationals and summer tour games too but the reality is that we have so many players out at those times of the year that we’re reduced to fielding almost a 2nd XV.
10 Nov 2009, 11:46 am
#18 Big Hit: The 6 nations is a competition between numbers 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and whatever in the world. Surely by “competitive” you should be referring to numbers 1, 2 and 3?
10 Nov 2009, 11:48 am
“Poms Hit New Low”.
Man this is heart-breaking stuff.
Can any of us imagine the:
-The Laments echoing in the Valleys of Wales.
-The Crying of Rivers of the High Veld.
-The Dirges being sung right now in Dunedin.
-The Jackaroo saying to the Swag-man..”Sad day Cobber”.
-The Pipes in the Highlands whistling a happy tune.
-The NY Stock Exchange……pausing…for a minute of silence.
-The swillers of Guinness bowing there heads for a moment of pray.
And on the Ilse of Man………….they couldn’t prevent Jack from being Happy.
10 Nov 2009, 11:56 am
#19 katman: ‘competitive’ refers to rugby competitions/tournaments. Rankings are flawed in a multitude of ways so I don’t place too much emphasis on them.
10 Nov 2009, 12:05 pm
#21 Big Hit:
Just as well Biggles, or you might be a bit pissed off.
On a Positive Note: Things can only get better from here ………Surely.
Congratulations by the way, on the England RL Team, making the Final of the 4 Nations.
I think they are in with a real show in the Final. Great pack. Just keep it away from the Aussie backs.
10 Nov 2009, 12:05 pm
#18 Big Hit: And there’s that pommy thing again…..excuses and more whinging. Just joking BH, though I feel it’s time to up your game. England can do much better than their current position. If you keep going like this Fiji might also fancy their chances against you.
10 Nov 2009, 12:11 pm
#23 Jozi:
It’s no Joke Jozi.
England have been rebuilding since 2003. And Jonny is still seen as the Messiah.
10 Nov 2009, 12:20 pm
#24 cane: Jonny is still playing like the messiah, it’s a pity the rest of them couldn’t follow his lead.
10 Nov 2009, 12:24 pm
#25 Big Hit: Best 10 in the world…no question…that includes Gits,Carter and M Steyn….
10 Nov 2009, 12:24 pm
Actually it is not good for rugby to have such a poor England.
Top rugby is only really played by about 8 countries. Not like Football where many countries compete. We need to have England back up there. Otherwise it could be like the Great WI Cricket side once they went down they never really got back to the top again.
We do have to remember too that South Africa had dropped to 6th in 2003. Jake got us back to number one and gave the Boks and their supporters their pride back. Now we are still on top with PdV. So we doing something right.
England need to give Martin Johnson the boot. There is still time before the next world cup. He is just not doing it for England. Get rid of him now and get a new coach.
10 Nov 2009, 12:28 pm
#25 Big Hit: How old is Wilkinson now BH? You think he will be around for the next WC?
10 Nov 2009, 12:29 pm
#3 Cheetha Champs: Close, but it is more a top 2 with 3-8. I won’t be surprised if Oz lose to Ireland.
10 Nov 2009, 13:17 pm
#21 Big Hit: At number eight in the world, I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on rankings either, Biggles.
10 Nov 2009, 13:20 pm
#20 cane:
LMAO – tho in fairness Big Hit is one of the fairest commentators on this side, particularly with regards to his take on the powerbalance between NZ and SA…
10 Nov 2009, 14:08 pm
#18 Big Hit: Yes injuries or not its our winning mindset that needs to change. If the SH teams field weakened teams against strong England teams they and there public still believe they can win.
For example in 2002 in the autumn internationals England were probably at there strongest and NZ came over after winning the tri nations, they left 12 of there team at home and about 7 made there test debut in the game. However they still were confident of a win and almost pulled it off if it hadnt been for cohen superb tackle, their team and their public were guttered however these days if we ran the Abs close it would be some moral victory and performance improvement!! It seems to me before these autumn games most people and media have written of England chances and are hopng for an improvement just as much as a win.
We need to target these games as our big games to win, if we dont start having the odd victory over the SH teams now it aint going to happen down there in 2011. Even in that barren period between 2004 -2007 we still had wins over the Ausssie in 05, the boks in 04 & 06. Look at our games against the big three teams since 2007
NZ lost 20-37
NZ lost 12-43
Aus lost 14-28
SA lost 6-42
NZ lost 6-33
Aus loat 8-19
I am worried about these results the gap is getting bigger and nothing at this end is being done to sort it. I dont often agree with Stephen jones however he seems the only journo harping on about results not performance and I for once agree with him.
10 Nov 2009, 18:39 pm
#32 west: come on, we’re down to third or fourth choice in a lot of positions. I think it’s bit much to expect to beat Australia, SA and NZ 1st XVs, I honestly don’t believe a winning mindset can make up for a quality deficiency.
10 Nov 2009, 19:03 pm
#33 Big Hit: Oh dear how sad never mind, goes to show what great depth you have, NOT!!, now you can understand where we have all been comming from, import overseas players in your comp, and watch your national team drop down the rankings, new it was going to happen!!
11 Nov 2009, 00:03 am
#2 Big Hit:
Hang on lets do this way.
RWC 2007 = lost
6N 2008 = lost
6N 2009 = lost
Last time i looked no prizes for coming second.
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