There was one more instalment of international rugby this past weekend as Ireland edged out Australia 22-19 in a scrappy encounter in what was the final Test of the year, but ultimately that result did little to impact the final world rugby rankings.
A win for Australia could have impacted Ireland’s ranking points in second position, but in the end they will finish the year two points behind the Springboks, who are firmly entrenched in the No 1 spot.
New Zealand are third, France in fourth, and Argentina impressively round up the top five ahead of Scotland, England and Australia.
THE SPRINGBOKS ARE ENTRENCHED IN NO 1 SPOT IN THE WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
RANKCOUNTRYPOINTS1South Africa92.782Ireland90.783New Zealand90.364France88.515Argentina84.976Scotland83.347England82.318Australia81.529Fiji80.0710Italy78.6411Wales74.0112Georgia73.8513Japan72.9514Samoa72.6815USA70.0216Portugal68.8217Uruguay67.0618Spain65.9819Tonga65.4620Romania63.01
After the final Test of the year, Australia coach Joe Schmidt looked ahead to the highly-anticipated British & Irish Lions tour Down Under next year, stating his belief that it could be a “contest”.
“Maybe not yet,” said Schmidt of whether his side could beat the Lions.
“But I think and I hope our supporters and supporters of the Lions can see enough in what we’ve delivered in these last four weeks to think they’re going to be entertained and it’s going to be a contest.
“We’ve still got some work to do for sure and I felt that there were times tonight where we’ve still got some guys who’ve only played a couple of tests and they’re still learning.”
Yet, Schmidt said he also felt the side was making good progress.
“When you’re losing by three to the All Blacks and Ireland, you do feel like you’re not that far away from the top table that you can keep building and be competitive,” he said.
“From a year last year when Portugal and Georgia were the only scalps, the disappointment of missing out on the play-off stages of the World Cup, I’m heartened by where we’ve got to, and determined by what is in front of us.
“We’ll get together a week or two before the Lions arrive,” Schmidt added. “I do think we’ve built enough confidence and cohesion this year that we can pick it up again, late June, early July next year.
“That in itself is a challenge, but it’s a great challenge. That’s the way I’d see it and certainly the way the players would see it as well.”
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