ENGLAND’S TROUBLED BUILD-UP to the World Cup is reflected in their descent to eighth in the last global rankings to be published before the tournament begins.
World Rugby has confirmed that Steve Borthwick’s side have fallen two places from sixth following their 30-22 defeat by Fiji on Saturday – registering their joint lowest position in the standings’ 20-year history.
Fiji have climbed from ninth to seventh on the back of their stunning victory at Twickenham while Argentina – England’s main pool rivals in France – are up one place to sixth.
Ireland remain top the rankings ahead of second-placed South Africa with the two heavyweights’ presence in Pool B alongside fifth-placed Scotland highlighting the most lop-sided draw in the competition’s history.
England are in the easiest group but given their recent run of five defeats in six tests, even their assignment against 12th-placed Samoa now looks like a banana skin.
Apart from their form on the field, which is underpinned by a leaky defence, they have suffered from a series of suspensions and injuries that have disrupted their build-up.
While the rankings change after every round of test matches, England’s lowly position is symbolic of how far they have fallen and mirrors expectations over how they will perform at the World Cup.
Borthwick himself explained the importance of the rankings heading into the tournament when he announced his 33-man squad on 7 August.
“If you could lay it out and say to me, ‘What would you want to be right now?’, I’d use (former England coach) Clive Woodward’s words that you want to be the best team in the world,” Borthwick said.
“Ranked number one, the favourites. That’s what Ireland have right now. Why? Because you want to make sure you’re the best team. Now that’s not our situation, our situation is different.”
Clare and Tipp will be Some Battle in Ennis.
Waterford Limerick kk and a cracker between Clare and tipp.
Dublin hurlers haven’t been beaten in Parnell Park since March 2011. I think (and hope) they’ll take Limerick on the day.
We do have a good record there but it’s not like we play 20 home games a season in Parnell park. How many matches since 2011?
I don’t know Seán, i didn’t count. I just know we’re unbeaten there in 5 years.
Does any team play 20 home games a season in their home ground?
No but statistics can be misleading, is all I’m saying. 5 years unbeaten sounds great but a lot of our handful of home games have been played in Croke park.
Teams in sports with proper competition structures do, but that’s another conversation entirely
Fair point, I’d still fancy our chances against Limerick.
Fancy them a lot more in parnell park then in the gaelic grounds for sure!
Since 2009, they’ve played 16, won 12, drawn 3 and lost 1 at Parnell Park.
Brain dead GAA scheduling Limerick Dublin an hour after Munster Leinster kick off in the Aviva stadium. Is it wrong for fans to support two sports. Rugby has been scheduled for months now.
What are Munster and Leinster playing in exactly. I thought they were out of everything? Dead rubber match?
Up the cats
Is there something wrong with you or something, I mean in every article you type the same thing. Did you drool on the keyboard or something and only a few keys are working or what’s the craic or maybe its even crack..
Dub tipp kk n waterford
You would think they could do something , same on Sunday , clare footballers who are actually going well this year travel to newbridge to play kildare in what is potentially a winner gets promoted game followed an hour and a half later by clare tipp in ennis, the gaa amaze me sometimes
Dublin football by a distance the closest to it
I think maybe instead of tossing a coin for home venues when two teams that played the same amount of home league games that instead the 1B team gets automatic home advantage.correct me if I’m wrong but I think it’s the 2nd year in a row Dublin have got home advantage against limerick through a coin toss which seems unfair and offaly are on a hiding to nothing going to nowlan park,realistically Kilkenny would probably beat offaly comfortably no matter what the venue is Fancy kk and Waterford for comfortable wins (regrettably as a wexford supporter),hard to back against the dubs with their Parnell park record and I could see Clare and tipp going to extra time
We’ve only had two home games in the league. We’ve had to travel to nowlan park the last two years.
I think maybe instead of tossing a coin for home venues when tea
Tipp at home not Clare
Not according to the GAA’s Official Twitter: ‘CONFIRMED: Clare will host Tipperary in the #AllianzLeagues Hurling Division 1 Q-Finals (venue/date TBC by CCCC)’.
That link also says the final is on May 5th…..
I read this morning that it was on in Ennis. I guess we can t believe everything on the net!!
What link? There’s no link in the tweet I posted.
Here’s a link for you: https://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/711861952109277184