If Ireland are to improve on their ranking they will have to do it without influential back-row David Wallace © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Wallace absolves Tuilagi of any blame

Features: Ireland under pressure to perform

News: O'Driscoll remains upbeat

News: Fly-half McKinley forced to retire

News: Wallace faces lengthy layoff

News: Jennings earns World Cup call

News: O'Connell backs Ireland to stop the rot

Match Pack: England heap woe on Ireland

Players/Officials: Declan Kidney | David Wallace

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Ireland

Ireland have dropped to eighth in the IRB world rankings on the back of their 20-9 loss to England on Saturday.

The loss was Ireland's fourth in their RWC 2011 warm-up matches, defeats by Scotland, France (twice) and England in August resulting in Declan Kidney's men not only surrendering their mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation in the rankings but sliding four places in total.

Ireland could have slipped another place to ninth had England's victory margin been more than 15 points, but eighth still equals their lowest ever standing which they occupied for almost a year before embarking on their Six Nations Grand Slam winning campaign of 2009.

They are now the fifth highest northern hemisphere side in the IRB World Rankings, their latest defeat dropping them behind Scotland with France, England and Wales having already usurped them. England have halved their deficit to France with the win in Dublin, but remain fifth.

New Zealand are another side licking their wounds after surrendering the Tri-Nations title to Australia with a 25-20 loss at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, a defeat which sees their cushion at the top of the rankings cut to only 1.71 points. With the points exchange system used to calculate the IRB World Rankings doubling for all matches at Rugby World Cup 2011 to reflect the importance of the tournament, New Zealand's reign at the top could come to an end over the coming months.

Australia's victory, which secured a first Tri Nations title since 2001, has stretched their advantage over South Africa in third to just over three points, not to mention boosted confidence as they seek to become the first nation to lift the Webb Ellis Cup three times.