Italy are the big movers in the Official IRB World Rankings this week. Their 36-12 victory over Tonga in Canberra on 15 October saw them leap frog the Pacific Island into 12th position.

Because the ratings system is more responsive during the RWC finals, the defeat has seen the Tongans slip to 15th, just one place above group rivals Canada.

Romania have also benefited from the Italians' victory, climbing two spots to 13th. While Romania have lost their first two games at RWC 2003, teams do not lose points if they are beaten by a team significantly higher than themselves in the rankings.

At the top of table, England have consolidated their position as the number one ranked side after their 25-6 victory over South Africa.

RANK COUNTRY RATING
1(1) England 90.24
2(2) New Zealand 89.8
3(3) Australia 84.76
4(4) Ireland 83.92
5(5) France 82.85
6(6) South Africa 80.63
7(7) Argentina 79.04
8(8) Wales 75.27
9(9) Samoa 74.67
10(10) Scotland 74.42
11(11) Fiji 73.64
12(13) Italy 73.01
13(15) Romania 67.73
14(14) United States 67.23
15(12) Tonga 66.6
16(16) Canada 65.62
17(17) Georgia 63.8
18(18) Japan 62.68
19(19) Uruguay 62.65
20(20) Portugal 62.03
21(21) Morocco 60.8
22(22) Korea 60.78
23(23) Russia 60.2
24(24) Chile 59.65
25(25) Namibia 58.76
26(26) Czech Republic 57.61
27(27) Ukraine 56.97
28(28) Germany 54.96
29(29) Hong Kong 54.67
30(30) Spain 54.28
31(31) Tunisia 54.09
32(32) Chinese Taipei 53.09
33(33) Poland 52.82
34(34) Croatia 52.8
35(35) Brazil 51.87
36(36) Paraguay 51.25
37(37) Denmark 49.75
38(38) Switzerland 49.08
39(39) Cote d'Ivorie 48.87
40(40) Netherlands 48.38
41(41) Madagascar 48.27
42(42) Kazakhstan 48.17
43(43) Sweden 47.41
44(44) Arabian Gulf 47.25
45(45) Zimbabwe 47.22
46(46) Latvia 47.17
47(47) China 47.05
48(48) Peru 47.04
49(49) Slovenia 46.98
50(50) Trin & Tobago 46.36
51(51) Kenya 46.3
52(52) Bermuda 46.3
53(53) Belgium 46.18
54(54) Thailand 45.65
55(55) Venezuela 45.52
56(56) Cook Islands 45.11
57(57) Singapore 44.9
58(58) Moldova 44.58
59(59) Serbia & Montenegro 44.06
60(60) Papua N Guinea 43.52
61(61) Lithuania 43.39
62(62) Zambia 42.9
63(63) Sri Lanka 42.8
64(64) Andorra 42.6
65(65) Hungary 42.43
66(66) Cayman Islands 42.03
67(67) Uganda 42.02
68(68) Malta 41.46
69(69) Solomon Islands 40.27
70(70) Nigeria 40
71(71) Guam 40
72(72) Senegal 40
73(73) St Lucia 40
74(74) Malaysia 39.44
75(75) Niue Island 39.31
76(76) Cameroon 38.97
77(77) Guyana 38.95
78(78) Monaco 38.81
79(79) Tahiti 38.62
80(80) Colombia 38.5
81(81) Barbados 38.48
82(82) Jamaica 38.14
83(83) Swaziland 37.92
84(84) Bulgaria 36.99
85(85) Luxembourg 36.91
86(86) Austria 36.76
87(87) Israel 35.95
88(88) Botswana 35.82
89(89) India 35.49
90(90) Vanuatu 35.16
91(91) Bahamas 34.2
92(92) Bosnia 33.94
93(93) Norway 33.62
94(94) Finland 33.06