WXV, World Rugby’s new annual global women’s 15s competition, launched with a bang in Stellenbosch and Dubai this weekend with wins for Italy, Scotland and USA in the second level and Ireland, Fiji and Spain in the third.
While there was no shortage of drama on the pitch, the outcome of the six matches has had little impact on the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini with Ireland and Spain the only upwardly mobile sides.
Ireland enjoyed a record 109-0 win over Kazakhstan to remain on 71.09 points, a total that is now superior to Japan’s after the Sakura 15s saw their rating reduced to 70.46 points following a 28-15 defeat to Italy.
Ireland and Japan have traded places as a result with the Irish now the higher-ranked of the teams in 10th.
Italy boosted their rating by 0.85 points to 73.67 following their win over Japan but the Azzurre remain in eighth place, a fraction of a point behind USA who beat Samoa 36-26 in their opening game in WXV 2.
Scotland are in Italy’s slipstream in ninth place on 72.03 points having boosted their rating thanks to a 31-17 win over WXV 2 host nation South Africa.
While Spain did not receive any additional points for beating the much lower-ranked Kenya in WXV 3, Las Leonas have moved up to 12th at South Africa’s expense after the WXV 2 host nation lost their first match on home soil this year.
The Springbok Women had 0.68 points knocked off their rating after the Scotland loss and are now down to 13th, on 64.47 points.
Meanwhile, Fiji kicked off their WXV 3 campaign in style with a 67-13 win over Colombia but were unable to improve on 19th place as no points were awarded to them for the victory due to their vastly superior rating.