Test rankings: England back on top

England’s move to the top was not only a result of their wins over high quality opposition (France and Canada being ranked third and fourth in the table when their matches took place) but, just as importantly, also by the size the wins - 20 and 29 points respectively.

As a result England gained 70 ranking points (how the rankings are calculated), enough to overturn last month’s 34 point deficit to New Zealand, and give then a 36 point lead at the top.

In practice this is a tiny lead, capable of being overturned by a single game between two sides. When looking at the table is it less the relative position of teams that is important, but the how far they are apart they are on ranking points. A margin of 30-40 points can be overturned by the effect of home advantage.

And what is telling about England and New Zealand is how far ahead of everyone else they are. England are now nearly 200 ranking points ahead of France in third, and approaching 350 ahead of the now fourth-placed Canadians (despite losing to both within the past 12 months), making them firm favourites to win any test match, wherever it is played - unless the opponents are the Black Ferns!

Elsewhere Switzerland’s win over the Czech Republic moves them up a place into 26th, overtaking Norway and taking them another step on the way to breaking through the 1000 point barrier.

ScrunQueens Women's Test Rankings: December 2013

1

England

4705

2

New Zealand

4669

3

France

4509

4

Canada

4369

5

United States

4342

6

Ireland

4202

7

Wales

4025

8

Italy

3970

9

Spain

3948

10

South Africa

3849

11

Scotland

3837

12

Australia

3500

Nomads

3126

13

Sweden

2982

14

Netherlands

2944

15

Kazakhstan

2681

16

Samoa

2501

17

Russia

2074

18

Germany

1968

19

Japan

1699

20

Belgium

1695

21

Finland

1585

22

Hong Kong

1240

23

Singapore

1070

24

Uganda

1053

25

China

970

26

Switzerland

953

27

Norway

932

28

Kenya

884

29

Romania

826

30

Trinidad & Tobago

820

31

Fiji

718

32

Cayman

697

33

Thailand

684

34

Uzbekistan

680

35

Denmark

644

Caribbean Select.

631

36

Jamaica

606

37

Tonga

541

38

Philippines

525

39

Luxembourg

501

40

Malaysia

488

41

Laos

467

42

Guyana

449

43

Brazil

408

44

Czech Rep.

390

45

Serbia

362

46

Rwanda

356

47

Barbados

304

48

Bosnia & Herzegovina.

265

49

Austria

251

50

Colombia

203

51

Namibia

192

52

Zambia

186

53

Bahamas

182

54

Croatia

170

55

St Vincent & the Grenadines

136

56

Portugal

128

57

Kyrgyzstan

127

58

Burundi

125

59

Venezuela

108

60

Cambodia

88

61

Botswana

88

62

Hungary

83

63

Papua New Guinea

69

64

Zimbabwe

58

©  Serge PIQUET - 2013