Tonga leapfrog USA
Tonga moved above USA in the Rankings after beating them 44-13
Story and Photo: www.irb.com
Tonga leapfrogged USA into 16th in the IRB World Rankings following their 44-13 victory against the North American side in the Churchill Cup after gaining 1.55 rating points whilst Zimbabwe climbed five places to 42nd.
Having recorded a 25-15 victory against Uganda in the Africa Cup, Zimbabwe's rise means they now hold their highest position since the World Rankings were introduced in October 2003, despite trailing 10-8 at half time.
The Sables, who went into the match as underdogs, scored twice in the second half through Denford Mutamangira and Gardner Nechironga to secure the win, a result which also meant Uganda fell four places from 41st to 45th.
Following the result the Netherlands climbed one place to 41st, and Madagascar and Papua New Guinea both fell one place to 46th and 47th respectively. USA fell one place to 17th.
In the other Churchill Cup match to effect the Rankings Canada defeated Russia 34-18, although neither side's positions altered.
Canada began the match four places above their opponents and despite gaining .59 rating points from their victory, this was not enough to lift them above Georgia in 14th.
Romania gained .23 rating points for their 13-11 victory against Namibia in the Nations Cup, but this was also not enough to move ahead of USA, who lost 1.55 rating points after their defeat to Tonga, into 17th.
In the only other match to effect the Rankings, Barbados fell two places to 76th after their 20-7 defeat to Guyana in the NACRA Championship.
Finland's 11-7 victory against Greece in the European Nations Cup didn't effect the Rankings as Greece are not yet a Full Member Union of the IRB and therefore not ranked.