Fiji’s first win over Australia since 1954 has been rewarded with a one-place gain in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings.
Sunday’s historic 22-15 victory in Saint-Étienne puts Fiji up to eighth, one place behind Wales, who were pushed hard by Portugal 24 hours earlier before winning 28-8.
As well as having an impact on the rankings, Fiji’s first-ever Rugby World Cup win over the Wallabies throws Pool C wide open with Wales leading the way on 10 points.
Fiji and Australia are locked together on six points after two matches with Fiji ahead thanks to their head-to-head record as teams chase the top-two finish that guarantees a place in the quarter-finals.
All the teams above Wales and Fiji in the rankings remain in the same position that they started the weekend after victories against lower-ranked opposition.
The top four – Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand – recorded wins over Tonga, Romania, Uruguay and Namibia respectively. Scotland, in fifth, did not play.
Like Wales, England left it late before securing a try bonus-point, their 34-12 win over Japan improving their rating by just two-hundredths of a point. As a result, England remain in sixth, 2.58 points better off than Wales.
With Wales and Fiji on the up, Australia have moved in the opposite direction, dropping two places to a record-equalling low of ninth.
SOURCE: WORLD RUGBY/PACNEWS
