World Cup: A Change of Rankings?
How would you feel about being ranked based on your performance 4 years ago? Pretty bad I suspect! But that’s exactly what the Rugby World Cup does!
If the current system remains in place this will be the top three:
- South Africa
- England
- Argentina
The IRB has not ranked any of them that high in the last three years, in fact South Africa haven’t even made number two in that time!
Currently all teams are ranked going into the next World Cup by their finishing position in the previous tournament, four years ago!
It is widely believedthat a fairer system should be used.
The obvious method is to use the IRB’s ranking system, the problem with that is that teams need to know well in advance who they will be playing and where, organisers need the same information so a cut off date would need to be established.
This could prove a headache, but would certainly stop top sides fielding second-string sides in the years before the World Cup.
Either way - it needs to change!