Wales fall to sixth in International Rugby Board rankings

Wales have slipped two places to sixth in the latest International Rugby Board rankings   following their 3-0 series defeat in Australia.

Both England - following their 14-14 draw in South Africa - and France have gone above Wales.

But the margins between fourth and sixth are tiny with just 0.83 of a point separating the three sides.

Rankings are crucial for the 2015 World Cup draw with the top four seeded and avoiding each other in the Pool stage.

World Rugby Rankings

1 (1) New Zealand 91.43

2 (2) Australia 87.05

3 (3) South Africa 84.87

4 (5) England 83.09

5 (7) France 83.03

6 (4) Wales 82.26

7 (8) Ireland 79.85

8 (6) Argentina 79.25

9 (10) Scotland 77.97

10 (9) Samoa 76.23

As things stand, New Zealand lead the rankings, Australia are in second, South Africa third and England fourth meaning all four will be in separate pools.

Despite being Six Nations champions, Wales have fallen out of that elite group after losing to Australia 27-19 , 25-23 and 20-19 in the three Test matches in June.

Wales will not get a change to improve their ranking until the autumn internationals in Cardiff when they play Argentina (10 November), Samoa (16 November), New Zealand (24 November) and Australia (1 December).

Despite losing 60-0 to the All Blacks, Ireland move up to seventh with Argentina falling to eighth after their defeat to France.

Scotland's victorious tour to the southern hemisphere sees them move up to ninth with Samoa falling to tenth. Italy rise to 11th with Tonga falling to 12th.