Ireland have moved up 2 places to 3rd in the World Rugby Rankings after beating France in the Rugby World Cup Pool D decider on Sunday.
Joe Schmidt’s side, who topped the pool with their 24 / 9 win against Les Bleus, have leapfrogged Wales (4) and South Africa (5) in the rankings, which are published by World Rugby every Monday.
7 Of the 8 Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-finalists feature in the Top 8 of the rankings; the exception being Scotland, who remain 1 place below England in 9th position.
Under the points exchange system used to calculate rankings, sides take points off each other based on the match result; whatever 1 side gains, the other loses. Such points exchanges are doubled during the Rugby World Cup to recognise the unique importance of the event.
Away from Rugby World Cup 2015, there were 2 European Nations Cup matches that also affected the World Rugby rankings.
Ukraine climbed 1 place to 30th after a 17 / 16 win over Belgium in Division 1B, with their hosts falling 3 to 29. Austria, meanwhile, rose 3 places to 80th after beating Denmark 31 / 25 in Division 2C. The Danes fell 3 to 85th as a result of the home defeat.