International Rugby Board - Seventh heaven for Peru and Thailand
Contrasting fortunes for Thailand and Malaysia
The biggest fallers of the week were Malaysia with a seven-place drop to 78th following their 44-7 loss to Thailand in the Bowl final, a result which saw their conquerors jump seven places to 67th – matching the week’s biggest climb of Peru.
Malaysia and Chinese Taipei weren’t the only side suffering defeat in the Rugby Asiad to see their ranking fall as the host nation Sri Lanka also drop one place to 50th with the Cook Islands gaining one position as a result.
The only other matches to have an impact on the rankings were in the European Nations Cup with Croatia climbing two places to 45th after their 24-9 defeat of Malta in Division 2B, a result which sees their visitors to Makarska fall two to 55th.
A close encounter in Division 2A between Ukraine and the Netherlands in Kiev went the home side’s way and although the 13-7 victory doesn’t alter the Ukraine’s position of 37th, it does improve their rating slightly to 51.32.
The Netherlands, though, do fall one place to 46th – the position they gained last week. However Malta and the Netherlands will hope to bounce back when they face higher ranked opponents Latvia and Moldova in the European Nations Cup this weekend.