WR Rankings at 27 November 2017

First topic message reminder :

1		New Zealand	94.78
2		England	89.84
3		Australia	86.97	(-1.17)
4		Ireland	84.62	(+1.17)
5	(↑6)	Wales	82.55	(+0.78)
6	(↓5)	South Africa	81.79	(-0.78)
7		Scotland	80.67	(+0.10)
8		France	80.13
9		Argentina	79.91
10		Fiji	76.16	(+0.67)
11		Japan	74.52	(-0.67)
12		Georgia	74.14	(-0.10)
13		Italy	72.47	(-1.69)
14	(↑15)	Tonga	71.94	(+1.69)
15	(↓14)	Samoa	70.95	(+0.04)

This is unofficial, but should be correct. 

What do we think about these? Are they generally reflective of where the union world is at the moment?

Anyone surprised by anything here given the recent winter test series?

George Carlin wrote:

1		New Zealand	94.78
2		England	89.84
3		Australia	86.97	(-1.17)
4		Ireland	84.62	(+1.17)
5	(↑6)	Wales	82.55	(+0.78)
6	(↓5)	South Africa	81.79	(-0.78)
7		Scotland	80.67	(+0.10)
8		France	80.13
9		Argentina	79.91
10		Fiji	76.16	(+0.67)
11		Japan	74.52	(-0.67)
12		Georgia	74.14	(-0.10)
13		Italy	72.47	(-1.69)
14	(↑15)	Tonga	71.94	(+1.69)
15	(↓14)	Samoa	70.95	(+0.04)

This is unofficial, but should be correct. 

What do we think about these? Are they generally reflective of where the union world is at the moment?

Anyone surprised by anything here given the recent winter test series?

I think you can swap Australia with Ireland and they would be accurate. If Australia get thumped by England next weekend will they still be ahead of Ireland?

When are the RWC seedings fixed?

What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

1		New Zealand	94.78
2		England	89.84
3		Australia	86.97	(-1.17)
4		Ireland	84.62	(+1.17)
5	(↑6)	Wales	82.55	(+0.78)
6	(↓5)	South Africa	81.79	(-0.78)
7		Scotland	80.67	(+0.10)
8		France	80.13
9		Argentina	79.91
10		Fiji	76.16	(+0.67)
11		Japan	74.52	(-0.67)
12		Georgia	74.14	(-0.10)
13		Italy	72.47	(-1.69)
14	(↑15)	Tonga	71.94	(+1.69)
15	(↓14)	Samoa	70.95	(+0.04)

This is unofficial, but should be correct. 

What do we think about these? Are they generally reflective of where the union world is at the moment?

Anyone surprised by anything here given the recent winter test series?

I think you can swap Australia with Ireland and they would be accurate. If Australia get thumped by England next weekend will they still be ahead of Ireland?

When are the RWC seedings fixed?

May, after the 6N

RDW_Scotland wrote:What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

England were in pot 2 last time, so I presume not

Oh right thanks. Someone will probably have Argentina in their group with a 1st or 2nd seed. Horrible draw.

RDW_Scotland wrote:What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

If Japan is first seed (or second for that matter) then team ranked 8th should be 3rd seed right?

whocares wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

If Japan is first seed (or second for that matter) then team ranked 8th should be 3rd seed right?

Pete C seemed to think that this isn't the case for the draw - I am maybe thinking of football where the host nation is generally top seed.

Can Ireland make 3rd spot with a grand slam? Can they do it if they lose to Eng?

mid_gen wrote:Can Ireland make 3rd spot with a grand slam? Can they do it if they lose to Eng?

Steady on, give it another 63 years and then you can talk about these .

The 6N is just practice for us to be gettin' ready for playing SH. Thanks for the practice yous other lads - much appreciated.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

whocares wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

If Japan is first seed (or second for that matter) then team ranked 8th should be 3rd seed right?

Pete C seemed to think that this isn't the case for the draw - I am maybe thinking of football where the host nation is generally top seed.

me too but there seem to be no mention anywhere that Japan should be protected seeding wise which is a bit of a shame although we home advantage they could still sneak to the QF.

SecretFly wrote:The 6N is just practice for us to be gettin' ready for playing SH.  Thanks for the practice yous other lads - much appreciated.

Well practice does include losing (and learning to deal with it). Just as long as it doesnt happen in a real game..

mid_gen wrote:Can Ireland make 3rd spot with a grand slam? Can they do it if they lose to Eng?

Depends on winner of Australia/England If Australia lose - then Yes to both questions - if they win the first 4 6N matches they will pass Australia.
If England lose - then the answer is probably yes to first no to second. However a lot of variables - depends on how the teams Ireland play have played prior to Ireland playing them - if thats not too confusing

lostinwales wrote:

SecretFly wrote:The 6N is just practice for us to be gettin' ready for playing SH.  Thanks for the practice yous other lads - much appreciated.

Well practice does include losing (and learning to deal with it). Just as long as it doesnt happen in a real game..

When all joking is done...that's actually true. Losing is good for the soul (bad for the temper tantrums ) - but it actually helps reset attitudes that might help the process of winning further down the line.

beshocked wrote:I meant Hadden yes. Scotland have benefitted from Saracens let's not forget. Sarries have got Maitland scoring tries now he's doing the same for Scotland.

Taking Taylor from Bedford and turning him into a Scotland international who played well in this year's 6 nations.

This is true, plus you have also given a home to Jim Hamilton, which is particularly charitable.

whocares wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

whocares wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What is good from a Scotland PoV is that unless we get smashed by everyone in the 6N, including Italy, we should be in the Top 8 for the World Cup draw, taking place after the 6N.

That doesn't necessarily mean an easy group though given that Argentina will likely be 3rd seeds I'm sure everyone will want to avoid them.

Will Japan be 1st seeds since they are host nation - meaning that the 4th seed will effectively be in pot 2?

If Japan is first seed (or second for that matter) then team ranked 8th should be 3rd seed right?

Pete C seemed to think that this isn't the case for the draw - I am maybe thinking of football where the host nation is generally top seed.

me too but there seem to be no mention anywhere that Japan should be protected seeding wise which is a bit of a shame although we home advantage they could still sneak to the QF.

It states the pre-qualified teams will be seeded based on their rankings. This has always been the case in the past too....England were a pot 2 team in 2015

As for the current rankings Id suggest that France are potentially better than their current rank, and Argentina are likely to front up with a better team for the world cup than they do for many of the games between.

Georgia above Italy is a real THING, but any win in the 6 nations will push Italy up noticeably. They just haven't played enough of the lower teams lately.

Yeah France were very decent v NZ. They beat Ireland this year of course but I think they were a little fortunate to do so as Ireland were hammering at the door for most of the match.

That said I wouldn't be shocked if they get at least one win V Ireland, England or Wales or possibly two if they have a great six nations.

They could win the damn thing.  

It really is up in the air.  People who keep writing off France as sub standard every year - well yeah, in results.  They just haven't been a balanced side with a good game structure.  That might actually continue through next 6N.... but also if they find a consistency, they could blow everyone off the park because you can't say these players are bad.  These players have the ability to play it bloody and close-quarters tough and then they have the pomp to take it out and run it.  What they need is the discipline to stay to structures and the mental strength not to sink the heads when losing.  I personally hope they have neither come the 6N or we're all in potential trouble.  

So, the 6N is open wide at this point.