Wales have officially lost top spot in the world rugby rankings and dropped to fourth after a home defeat to Ireland , with the All Blacks resuming their number one position.
A win, by a margin of less than 15 points, for the Irish in Cardiff at the weekend meant Joe Schmidt's men climbed from fourth to second in the world rankings.
The All Blacks resumed the top spot, while England are the third-placed team.
If Ireland had beaten Wales by more than 15 points, they would have become number one in the world for the first time in history.
How the world rankings now look
1. New Zealand (89.40 points)
2. Ireland (88.86)
3. England (88.13)
4. Wales (87.92)
5. South Africa (86.83)
6. Australia (84.05)
7. Scotland (81.00)
8. France (79.72)
How could the rankings change this weekend?
Now, assuming England, New Zealand and Australia all win their respective games this weekend by more than 15 points (against Italy, Tonga and Samoa respectively), Wales would need to beat Ireland by more than 15 points in Dublin on Saturday (September 7) to go to the World Cup as the number one side in the world.
A Welsh win by less than 15 points in Dublin would see Wales climb to second, behind the All Blacks, while a draw with Ireland would see Ireland sit at second, Wales climb to third, and England drop to fourth.
Any defeat to Ireland next weekend will see Wales head to the World Cup ranked fourth in the world.
