International Rugby
England slip in world rankings
ESPNscrum Staff
March 21, 2011
England players react to their defeat to Ireland in Dublin, Ireland v England, Six Nations, Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland, March 19, 2011
England were heavily beatne in Dublin © Getty Images
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England's failure to secure the Grand Slam has seen them slip below Ireland in the latest IRB World Rankings, despite their overall victory in the Six Nations.

Martin Johnson's men were hammered 24-8 by their Irish counterparts in Dublin on Saturday, ending their hopes of a first clean sweep since 2003.

The result also confirmed that Ireland would end this season's tournament as the highest-ranked northern hemisphere side behind leaders New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

England slip to fifth, while France drop to sixth despite their comfortable win over Wales in Paris. Warren Gatland's men are seventh, with Scotland ninth and Italy bringing up the rear in 12th.

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