Peru and Thailand are the biggest movers in the latest IRB World Rankings, both climbing seven places after finishing second in the South American B Championship and winning the Plate at the Rugby Asiad respectively.
In the last seven days Peru have beaten two nations ranked above them in Colombia [13-9] and Venezuela [24-8], results which see the tournament hosts climb to 60th with a rating points increase of 1.83 to 43.34.
Colombia’s loss to Peru last Wednesday and Brazil on Saturday see them fall three places to 63rd, although Venezuela have dropped five places to 71st after failing to record a victory in this year’s Championship – their lowest ever position since the rankings began.
Brazil retained their South American B title with three victories – the most recent a 43-3 defeat of Colombia on Saturday – but as they were ranked significantly higher than their opponents they have not improved their rating points.
In fact Brazil actually fall two places to 33rd as a result of the victories enjoyed by Belgium and Kazakhstan over the weekend, the former regaining the 31st position they lost to the South Americans in the previous rankings.
Double delight for Kazakhstan
Belgium made the most of home advantage in Brussels to overcome the higher ranked Germany 32-18 in Division 2A of the European Nations, a result which sees their opponents’ rating points fall by 1.13 points but not a change in their position of 26th.
Kazakhstan meanwhile have two reasons to celebrate with their defeat of Sri Lanka in the Rugby Asiad final in Colombo on Saturday resulting in a four place climb to 32nd – their highest ever position in the IRB World Rankings.
The Kazakhs also beat Chinese Taipei and Thailand in the Asiad with their rise meaning a one place fall for the Czech Republic, Tunisia and Poland – as well as Brazil. However Kazakhstan were not the only nation on the climb after winning silverware at the Asiad.
China won the Plate final with a 28-22 defeat of Chinese Taipei, who were the higher ranked of the nations beforehand at 43. However China’s win sees them climb six places to 40th and Chinese Taipei fall five to 48th – their lowest ever position.
Contrasting fortunes for Thailand and Malaysia
The biggest fallers of the week were Malaysia with a seven-place drop to 78th following their 44-7 loss to Thailand in the Bowl final, a result which saw their conquerors jump seven places to 67th – matching the week’s biggest climb of Peru.
Malaysia and Chinese Taipei weren’t the only side suffering defeat in the Rugby Asiad to see their ranking fall as the host nation Sri Lanka also drop one place to 50th with the Cook Islands gaining one position as a result.
The only other matches to have an impact on the rankings were in the European Nations Cup with Croatia climbing two places to 45th after their 24-9 defeat of Malta in Division 2B, a result which sees their visitors to Makarska fall two to 55th.
A close encounter in Division 2A between Ukraine and the Netherlands in Kiev went the home side’s way and although the 13-7 victory doesn’t alter the Ukraine’s position of 37th, it does improve their rating slightly to 51.32.
The Netherlands, though, do fall one place to 46th – the position they gained last week. However Malta and the Netherlands will hope to bounce back when they face higher ranked opponents Latvia and Moldova in the European Nations Cup this weekend.
