2003/5/01
New Zealand in 'hardest' RWC Pool
Top 20 teams in Zurich World Rankings going to RWC

With the United States securing the 20th, and final spot, at the 2003 Rugby
World Cup finals in Australia at the weekend with a comfortable win over
Spain, it means that once again all the top 20 teams in the Zurich World
Rankings will compete in Rugby's showpiece event.

USA's comfortable two-legged win over Spain sealed their spot in the
tournament and has pushed them above RWC debutants Georgia who are the
only team travelling to Australia who did not take part in the 1999 RWC.

In terms of the Zurich World Rankings as they stand at the moment, the
'hardest' RWC Pool is Pool D that features New Zealand, Wales, Italy,
Canada and Tonga with a 9.6 ranking position average.

The 'easiest' is Pool B with France, Scotland, Fiji, Japan and USA with
an average of 11.4 whilst Pools A and C both have an average of 10.4.

Zurich World Rankings (as of May 1, 2003):

1 England 1239
2 New Zealand 1206
3 Australia 1146
4 France 1139
5 South Africa 1045
6 Ireland 893
7 Scotland 783
(-) 8 Argentina 762 (+7)
9 Wales 702
10 Samoa 680
11 Canada 603
12 Italy 593
13 Fiji 567
14 Tonga 523
15 Japan 471
16 Romania 383
(+1) 17 United States 372 (+28)
(-1) 18 Georgia 359
(-) 19 Uruguay 307 (+12)
20 Namibia 294