Ireland’s fall in the Rugby World Ranking is a worry ahead of the World Cup

After two losses, what did we expect?

As if losing to Wales and England on successive weekends wasn't bad enough, Ireland's rugby confidence has taken another booting today in the World Rugby rankings. Ireland dropped to third after the loss to Wales at the Aviva last week, but the defeat to England has been even more damaging and we are now ranked the sixth best team in the world. It's not so long ago when we were in the heady slot of second after our Six Nations success, but our recent form has seen us now fall below England, and now ranked as just the third best northern hemisphere side. The All-Blacks are still number one, Australia are now second while South Africa take third spot with England, by virtue of the win over Ireland, now up to fourth. It means ahead of the World Cup they are the best ranked nation outside of the big three.