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Ireland move past Boks in rankings

London - Ireland have moved up two places to third in the world rankings after beating France in their Rugby World Cup Pool D decider on Sunday.

Full World Rugby rankings

Joe Schmidt's side, who topped the pool with their 24-9 win against Les Bleus, have leapfrogged Wales (4) and South Africa (5) in the rankings - published by World Rugby every Monday.

France dropped one place to seventh following Sunday's defeat at the Millennium Stadium, swapping places with Ireland's quarter-final opponents Argentina, who rose to sixth.

Seven of the eight RWC 2015 quarter-finalists feature in the top eight of the rankings - the exception being Scotland, who remain one place below England in ninth position.

Under the points exchange system used to calculate rankings, sides take points off each other based on the match result; whatever one side gains, the other loses. Such points exchanges are doubled during the Rugby World Cup to recognise the unique importance of the event.

Other changes from last week's rankings include Japan overtaking Fiji to go 10th and Italy climbing one place to 12th, above Tonga.

Away from Rugby World Cup 2015, there were two European Nations Cup matches that also affected the World Rugby rankings.

Ukraine climbed one place to 30th after a 17-16 win over Belgium in Division 1B, with their hosts falling three to 29. Austria, meanwhile, rose three places to 80th after beating Denmark 31-25 in Division 2C. The Danes fell three to 85th as a result of the home defeat.

Top 10 World Rugby rankings:

1. New Zealand - 92.89

2. Australia - 90.93

3. Ireland - 85.74

4. Wales - 85.71

5. South Africa - 84.58

6. Argentina - 80.49

7. France - 79.77

8. England - 79.77

9. Scotland - 77.94

10. Japan - 77.05

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