Ireland have replaced England at No 3 on the World Rugby rankings following their 19-9 win in Dublin on Sunday.

The victory turns what was a 0.17 rating point deficit into a 1.27 cushion for Ireland over England. Joe Schmidt’s side are now less than two rating points behind South Africa in second in the rankings.

Wales have increased their margin over France beneath to almost four points after a 20-13 victory over Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Saturday, although the margin was not enough to improve their position of sixth.

They now sit just a tenth behind Australia, who avoided a drop to their lowest ever position since the rankings were introduced in October 2003. France’s cushion over Argentina has shrunk to just over seven tenths after their second loss of the Six Nations.

Italy’s last gasp win over Scotland did not result in a positional change given the near three-point deficit to Tonga above them in 13th. That has now closed to just over a point on the back of the 22-19 victory at Murrayfield.

Scotland’s loss at home, though, has seen them fall a place to 10th with Samoa the beneficiary.

World Rugby rankings (top 10):

1. New Zealand 93.70
2. South Africa 88.23
3. Ireland 86.38
4. England 85.11
5. Australia 82.95
6. Wales 82.85
7. France 78.96
8. Argentina 78.23
9. Samoa 75.39
10. Scotland 75.22
Full rankings
How the rankings work

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images