| 1 |  |
New Zealand |  |
+1 | 169 | (168) | ||
| 2 |  |
South Africa | +8 | 157 | (149) | |||
| 3 |  |
Australia | -1 | 155 | (156) | |||
| 4 |  |
France |  |
+7 | 142 | (135) | ||
| 5 |  |
Wales | +9 | 142 | (133) | |||
| 6 |  |
England | |
+2 | 141 | (139) | ||
| 7 |  |
Ireland | |
+7 | 136 | (129) | ||
| 8 |  |
Argentina | |
+5 | 131 | (126) | ||
| 9 |  |
Scotland | |
0 | 123 | (123) | ||
| 10 |  |
Lions | |
0 | 122 | (122) |
We’re all aware that New Zealand have raced off into the sunset with the Webb Ellis trophy but how have they and the other teams fared on the Openside Rankings?
Not a massive change for the ranking leading and new world champions, New Zealand gaining a solitary point to stay top with 169 points. However the biggest change in ranking goes to surely the biggest surprise of the tournament with Wales gaining 9 points to go equal fourth along side France on 142 points. A well deserved elevation in ranking alongside a great world cup performance. Perhaps surprisingly another large increase in ranking of 8 points goes to South Africa who exited in the quarter-final. This strangely allows them to steal second place in the rankings back from Australia who dropped a point, largely due to their loss to Ireland in Pool stage. Runners-up France gained seven points to end up in equal fourth with Wales, with Ireland and Argentina also gaining large numbers of points but remaining where they were pre-tournament.
So Wales and, strangely, South Africa appear to be the biggest gainers out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, otherwise it’s pretty much as you were. The Southern teams still have the top three spots, although three teams from the north, France, Wales and England are within 8 points of Australia in third place. The gap appears to be closing, but when will a northern team finally claim a spot in the top three? Keep checking the latest Openside Rankings to find out.