#RWC2015 Power Rankings – for those just joining us.
The winners and losers thus far through the Rugby World Cup 2015. What teams are the movers and shakers? What do you think? Australia is building form in the deep end of Pool A, but have a few injuries and a key suspension. Ireland aren’t quite looking like the 6 Nations champs. New Zealand are sitting in a fairly shallow Pool C, picking off the little fish. And England ….Time for a Bex and a good lie down?
Of the ‘minows’ while the peleton has probably improved its overall showing, none has truly taken a giant leap forward. Japan beat South Africa and as such were expected to beat Samoa. None of the others have really challenged a top tier nation.
Please feel free to disagree in the comments section – I’ll be here all day.
Rank |
Team |
Win/Loss |
Trending |
1 |
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3-0 |
– |
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Still the benchmark. Some sub-par performances in their first 3 matches will build an edge. |
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2 |
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3-0 |
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As dominant a display as any visiting team at Twickenham in recent memory moves them up the rankings. |
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3 |
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2-1 |
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Japan seem to have woken the Bokke. A couple of dominant wins over Scotland and Samoa has them back on track. Rounding out an all SANZAR top 3. They should do a number of the Eagles and top pool B. |
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4 |
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3-0 |
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The previous Dark horse had a stumble again ITA in a match the Italians may have won. IRE really should have put Italy to the sword. Form like that wont play well with the French who are 3-0 |
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5 |
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3-0 |
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It looked a tired team that got past FIJ in the Pool of death. They will give it their all against AUS at Twickenham to ensure they dont have to face RSA in the quarters. |
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6 |
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3-0 |
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The last of the teams at 3-0. They have had it pretty easy with wins over CAN, ROM and ITAy. Their biggest test will be against an out of form IRE. |
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7 |
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2-1 |
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Were unlucky to draw NZL first up but someone had to. They are capable of anything in the knock out rounds and their players are used to playing the top ranked nations now having beaten both AUS and RSA recently. Should overcome Namibia easily to lock in a trip to the Quarters against IRE or FRA |
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8 |
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2-1 |
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Form states they should beat Samoa but pride will drive Samoa after a lackluster performance thus far losing to Samoa could see JAP leap from them and take their spot in the Quarters. |
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9 |
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2-1 |
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| Will back themselves against the Eagles to score a bonus point win. The Eagles will be tired and looking forward to a trip home. With Millions urging them on from home it would be great to see them make the Quarters. | |||
10 |
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1-2 |
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| Need we say more. Its a long way back from where they are now. They should put 80 on Uruguay who will be enjoying the last week of their tour. In reality they aren’t in the comp anymore. Scotland and Japan are. I hope they enjoy the friendly against Uruguay | |||
11 |
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1-3 |
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| Never really stood a chance in Pool A with their dance card packed into the first 2 weeks. They can hold their heads high after this World Cup. Pushing their more fancied rivals ENG, AUS and WAL. They put Uruguay away in emphatic Fijian style. If they were seeded into Pool B with RSA, SCO, JPN it could have been a different story. | |||
12 |
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1-2 |
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| They pushed IRE hard in their must win 3rd match, they wont progress, but their effort against IREand what should be a win over ROM should give them a balanced card with 2 wins 2 losses. Uou get the feeling that Italian rugby wont get worse, nor better in the near future. | |||
13 |
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1-2 |
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| Poor against both RSA and JPN they have been a bit of a disappointment. They could put it to Scotland as stated above. Their discipline has been poor and this could be a brutal encounter for SCO opening the door for JPN. | |||
14 |
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1-2 |
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| Should finish above TGA in New Zealands Pool C. With all teams bar ARG, ranked in the teens this pool was a bit of a gimme for the top two. GEO did well to topple TGA early. Will beat NAM to secure 3rd spot and plenty of street cred for their tough play. | |||
15 |
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1-2 |
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| Probably shouldn’t have lost to GEO in their opening match. Not much more to say really. Do we really expect the Pacific Island teams to shock a top tier team. Not in Pool C. | |||
16 |
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1-2 |
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| Romped home in a record comeback against CAN. This is a game that CAN should have won. | |||
17 |
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0-4 |
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| Punched above their weight in all 3 games against ENG, WAL and AUS. Struggled against a rampant FIJ for their final match. This is a proud Rugby country. They play the game the right way and will go places. | |||
18 |
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0-4 |
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| Another disappointing mid-tier team. Id like to think that North American Rugby would have taken a step forward at this world cup if anything its been a step back. Maybe they arent focused on 15 a side. | |||
19 |
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0-2 |
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| Put these guys in the same bucket as SAM. Disappointing. This could have been the chance for USA to topple a big name. They will want to play strong against RSA, then beat JPN. Something tells me the 2 matches and thoughts of home will see them lose both matches. Pool B really has been underwhelming apart from Japans performance against RSA. | |||
20 |
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0-2 |
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| With two matches to play at least they wont be on the drink too early before they have to head to the airport. With a game they could well win against GEO they might improve their world ranking yet. | |||
