Two of the three European Nations Cup 2012 encounters this weekend could result in huge climbs in the IRB World Rankings for Poland, Andorra and Slovenia in particular.
The one match that won’t result in a positional change, regardless of the outcome or winning margin, is Luxembourg’s visit to Jyväskylä to take on Finland in Division 2D, the sixth tier of a restructured European Nations Cup format.
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Luxembourg have a 4.06 rating point cushion over Finland, the side at the foot of the IRB World Rankings. They cannot therefore fall below Finland, but could see their advantage cut to seven tenths with a loss by more than 15 points.
A convincing win for Luxembourg will, by contrast, increase their cushion over Finland to nearer seven points , inching them to within a point of 93rd ranked Vanuatu.
Poland and Slovenia, meanwhile, have the most to gain from their encounters on the road against the Czech Republic and Andorra respectively, with an eight-place rise possible with comfortable wins.
The Czech Republic have won three of their four encounters with Poland on home soil, the exception being a 13-7 loss two years ago, and will be looking to get their Division 1B campaign off to a winning start.
A victory will improve the Czech Republic’s current standing of 33rd by two or three places, depending on the victory margin. A win by more than 15 points will give them their highest position since June 2007.
Eight place gains?
However, back to back losses on home soil to Poland will see them slide five places to effectively take over their visitors’ 38th spot, with the Poles rising a minimum of six places.
If Poland taste victory by more than 15 points at the Tatra Smichov Stadium in Prague on Saturday then they could rise to 30th, bringing them to within one position of their highest ever ranking in June 2009.
The weekend’s other European Nations Cup encounter comes from Division 2B with 62nd ranked Andorra hosting the side three places below them in Slovenia.
Andorra convincingly beat Slovenia 38-5 the last time the two sides meet back in April 2005 and a repeat performance in Andorra La Vella will see them rise five places to 57th – their highest standing since August 2005.
Slovenia will slide five places regardless of the margin of defeat, but if they can return home with a victory will return to the top 60 with a minimum six-place climb to 59th.
A victory by more than 15 points, though, will see Slovenia assume 57th spot – their best since June 2005. Andorra will plummet nine places in this instance, virtually wiping out their entire gain over the last 12 months.
The IRB World Rankings update every Monday at 12:00 UK time.
