IRELAND HAVE CLIMBED back up to third in the world rankings following South Africa’s draw with Australia, despite Joe Schmidt’s side not having kicked a ball since June.
The Springboks’ back-to-back draws with the Wallabies, coupled with the 57-0 loss to New Zealand, sees Ireland leapfrog them into third in the latest World Rugby standings.
World champions New Zealand remain at the summit after retaining their Rugby Championship title at the weekend while England sit in second.
Following the 22-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last March, Ireland have won four Test matches on the bounce heading into this year’s November Internationals.
Schmidt’s men host South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 11 November before facing Fiji and Argentina over the next two weekends in Dublin.
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