Historic win lifts Italy in World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini

There was plenty of movement in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini but the headline result of the weekend undoubtedly belongs to Italy.

Italy had never beaten Australia in 18 previous attempts but they put the record straight in Florence with a nail-biting 28-27 win.

Italy led 28-22 but when Caderyn Neville crossed for Australia’s fourth try in the final minute, it looked like they were set for more heartache.

However, Wallabies debutant Ben Donaldson pushed what would have been the match-winning conversion wide of the posts and Italy celebrated a famous win that lifts them up one place to 11th.

It is the first time they have been as high up in the rankings since 18 November, 2013 and they are now just one-and-a-quarter points adrift of Japan, the side immediately above them.

Wales were another big winner in the rankings with their hard-fought 20-13 win over Argentina and Australia's defeat combining to result in a two-place rise to seventh.

Australia drop down to eighth – one above their all-time low, while Scotland also fall one place to ninth after throwing away a 23-14 lead to lose 31-23 to New Zealand.

Like France, who beat South Africa 30-26 in another dramatic encounter, the All Blacks did not pick up enough points in victory to improve their position and topple Ireland at the top of the rankings.

Ireland remain on 90.63 points after reeling off an 11th straight home win, this time against Fiji, with France second on 90.01, New Zealand third on 89.15 and South Africa fourth on 87.81 points.

Samoa bounce back

Outside of the top 10, Samoa shot up two places to 12th thanks to a 20-19 win away to Georgia.

It was an impressive response from the Samoans who had been beaten 49-17 at the hands of Italy the week before.

With both Italy and Samoa upwardly mobile, Fiji fall two places to 13th and Georgia drop back one place to 14th, their lowest ranking since January 2020.

Having played each other twice in Montevideo in July, sharing the two-test series 1-1, Los Teros renewed their acquaintance with Romania this weekend but this time in Bucharest.

Los Teros followed up their victory on their last visit there in 2018 with a 21-16 win and are now the higher ranked of the two teams in 16th with the Oaks as low as 20th. 

USA and Portugal swap places with the Men's Eagles now above Os Lobos following their respective victories over Hong Kong and Kenya in the Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023. But with the teams meeting for a place at next year's tournament in the final round of matches, 18th place will be on the line this Friday.

Elsewhere, Switzerland’s perfect start to the Rugby Europe Trophy continued with a second bonus-point win of the season. The Swiss beat Lithuania 45-6 and top the standings with a maximum 10 points from 10.

With the Netherlands also losing 37-25 at home to Canada, the victory lifted Switzerland above the Dutch and into 28th place.