Wales will have to step up

England retain their number one ranking, but they are only twenty points ahead of the in-form New Zealand side. All twenty Rugby World Cup sides are ranked in the world’s Top 20. The rankings indicate that Pool A will be the most tightly contested at the Cup, with Australia ranked third and coming up against two of the big improvers in world rugby – Ireland (sixth) and Argentina (seventh).

Wales are in Pool D with New Zealand (second), Canada (eleventh), Italy (thirteenth) and Tonga (fourteenth). In the 1999 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand went in as the number one side with eventual winners Australia in second place and runners-up France fifth.

Zurich World Rankings (as of Sept 6, 2003):
01. England 1298 pts
02. New Zealand 1278 pts
03. Australia 1108 pts
04. France 1103 pts
05. South Africa 1006 pts
06. Ireland 929 pts
07. Argentina 858 pts
08. Scotland 756 pts
09. Wales 699 pts
10. Samoa 675 pts
11. Canada 569 pts
12. Fiji 561 pts
13. Italy 549 pts
14. Tonga 527 pts
15. Japan 457 pts
16. United States pts
17. Georgia 363 pts
18. Romania 357pts
19. Namibia 303 pts
20. Uruguay 295 pts