2011 Rugby World Cup Quarter-final results reshuffle International Rugby Board’s World Rankings – Rugby News
At the end of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) quarter-finals that were played last weekend, the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Rankings have gone through several changes. Interestingly,
three out of four teams finds themselves through to the last four of the tournament even though they lost their pool matches.
This includes teams like France and Australia, who suffered tournament upset defeats at the hands of Tonga and Ireland in their Pool A and Pool C encounters respectively.
According to the latest IRB world Rankings, following their impressive win over the defending champions, Springboks, 2011 Tri Nations Champions, Wallabies have re-secured their second ranking.
On the other hand, Springboks have dropped to the third position on the rankings.
Wales, following their impressive 12 point victory over their European Rivals, Ireland, who were better ranked, have jumped two places and now occupy the fourth place. Wales fourth rank was
helped by the fact that France defeated the fourth ranked England during their 2011 RWC quarter-final clash. Before the match, Ireland was ranked fifth while Wales were ranked sixth.
The biggest upset of the quarterfinal came during the France vs. England quarter-final encounter, as Les Bleus thrashed England’s world cup winning hopes. This was France second consecutive
RWC quarter-final upset, following their 2007 RWC victory over the All Blacks.
France's victory over the higher ranked England has helped them climb three places on the ranking to finish 5th. France defeated England 19 – 12 at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday,
October 8. The win has boosted the French teams confidence following their shocking defeated, which they suffered from Tonga in their last pool match. Besides this, France has taken revenge from the English for their previous two semi-finals defeat in 2003
and 2007 RWC.
All Blacks are still world number ones, as their recent quarter-final win over Argentina has helped them to gain a 3.42 points lead over the second ranked Wallabies. Pumas on the other hand
have slipped one position and now are placed at eighth position.
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