World Rugby rankings: Wales fall to record low as England move up

Sunday, 06 July 2025 at 19:19

byRugby Rucker

The international weekend delivered fireworks across the globe, shaking up the World Rugby rankings with shock upsets, dominant performances, and dramatic tumbles.

While some teams soared, others crashed hard—and few fanbases will be as thrilled as England's after a defining statement in Buenos Aires.

? Top 25 – Full World Rugby Rankings

#	▲▼	Team	Points	Change
1	–	South Africa	92.78	–
2		New Zealand	90.98	+0.62
3		Ireland	89.83	–
4	–	France	88.90	-0.62
5	▲6	England	86.72	+1.99
6	▼5	Argentina	82.98	-1.99
7	–	Scotland	82.36	–
8	–	Australia	81.52	–
9	–	Fiji	80.07	–
10	–	Italy	77.77	–
11	–	Georgia	74.69	–
12	▲13	Japan	73.70	+0.74
13	▲14	Samoa	72.68	+1.02
14	▼12	Wales	72.65	-0.74
15	–	USA	70.02	–
16	–	Spain	67.34	–
17	–	Uruguay	67.06	–
18	–	Portugal	66.44	–
19	–	Tonga	65.46	–
20	▲1	Chile	63.20	+1.48
21	▼1	Romania	63.13	-1.48
22	▲1	Hong Kong China	59.98	+0.49
23	▼1	Belgium	59.98	–
24	–	Canada	59.18	–
25	–	Namibia	57.87	–

? Talking Points from the Rankings

? England on Fire
The biggest gainers of the week, England roared back to form with a clinical 35–12 away win over Argentina. The result not only handed them +1.99 points, but also catapulted Steve Borthwick’s side one places up to 5th in the world—a major confidence boost heading into the summer series.

❌ French & Argentine Falls
France dropped out of the top three after their narrow defeat to New Zealand, losing 0.62 points and holding 4th place by a thread.

? Wales Collapse
Wales' nightmare continues, with a shock 24–19 defeat to Japan (their 18th in a row)in Tokyo. The loss sees them plummet down 14th—their lowest position in recent memory.

? Stable Giants
While chaos unfolded below them, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, and Australia all held firm in the top 10. The Springboks' 42–24 win over Italy keeps them securely at the summit, while Ireland’s 34–5 win in Georgia cements their 3rd-place status.

“Test dreams in tatters” – 5 Lions flops who’ve fallen flat on tour

Four matches in, and the Lions tour is already separating the contenders from the pretenders. While some players are pushing hard for a place in the Test XV, others have gone missing when it mattered most.

Whether it’s rust, nerves, or just being outplayed, these five Lions have done themselves no favours – and could be heading home with regret.

Fin Smith – Under pressure, underwhelming

All eyes were on Fin Smith to make a statement with Owen Farrell still looming over the fly-half conversation. But instead of stepping up, he produced a performance that did little to settle nerves.

Smith failed to make a major impression in the tour opener against Argentina, looking tentative and overly conservative in key moments.

Things didn’t improve much in his second outing against the Waratahs, where he tried to force the issue in the second half—only for the mistakes to pile up and the game to slip further away from him.

? Test chances: Fading fast. He’s no longer a clear bench option, and others are circling.

Hugo Keenan – Off the boil

After being made to wait for his chance, Keenan finally got his shot against the Waratahs—and it couldn’t have gone much worse.

He opened with a dropped ball under little pressure and followed it with a missed tackle that directly led to a try. Normally so composed and reliable, Keenan looked rattled from the off and never quite found his rhythm or influence on the game.

? Test chances: This was a golden opportunity to nail down a claim. He let it slip through his fingers—literally.

Pierre Schoeman – Scrummaged into trouble

The Lions scrum was meant to be a weapon—but against the Force, it was anything but. Schoeman struggled to hold his ground and was part of a front row that got manhandled far too often.

With Ellis Genge putting in a dominant shift last week, Schoeman’s underwhelming showing couldn’t have come at a worse time. The raw power and aggression he’s known for were notably absent.

? Test chances: He’s still in the mix, but firmly behind the frontrunners now.

Tom Curry – A shadow of his best

This tour was supposed to be Curry’s return to dominance, but so far he’s looked anything but. Against Argentina in the opener and again versus the Reds, Curry seemed a step behind play.

His trademark defensive tenacity was muted, and while he rallied late on with a few solid tackles, the damage was already done. His lack of synergy with the back row around him was noticeable—and concerning.

? Test chances: Still respected, but form has to match reputation. Right now, it doesn’t.

Duhan van der Merwe – Rusty and out of rhythm

The big winger has been one of the Lions’ most electric weapons in recent years, but injuries have clearly disrupted his build-up.

He’s looked off the pace, lacking sharpness both with ball in hand and in defensive positioning. Meanwhile, James Lowe has seized every chance to impress. Duhan’s physicality remains a threat, but his edge seems dulled for now.

? Test chances: Slipping away quickly. Needs a statement game—and soon.

When 17 nearly became zero but so brutally grew to 18 instead: Wales hit a horrendous new low

British & Irish Lions coach is married to popular Welsh rugby presenter