Italy are up to a record high eighth
place in the world rugby rankings having overtaken Wales after
winning 24-21 in Cardiff Saturday with Warren Gatland's men
dropping to 10th having also been passed by Australia. .
The Azzurri have only been this high once before, in March 2007,
after also beating Wales at the Flaminio in Rome.
In the last year Gonzalo Quesada's men have scaled six spots in
the rankings, from 14th.
South Africa remain top, followed by Ireland who have just won
their second straight Six Nations despite losing to England to
spoil their crack at a second straight Grand Slam.
2024 was the Azzurri's best ever Six Nations' result having won
two games - the other against Scotland at the Olimpico a week
ago - and drawing another, 13-13 against France in Lille, with
Paolo Garbisi's last-second kick hitting the upright to deny
them a historic first win on French soil.
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