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REVEALED: Scotland’s Heroics Move Them To Highest Ever World Rugby Ranking

618 Comments

Scotland Rugby’s stunning 29-13 win over Wales, in addition to their surprise victory over Ireland, will see them move up to their highest ever World Rugby ranking.

The record breaking new position, which will be announced by World Rugby next week, will see the men in blue move up to a record breaking 5th – beating their highest ever former position of 6th under Andy Robinson’s reign in 2010.

Prior to the win Scotland were in 8th, but thanks to beating higher placed Wales (the former occupiers of 5th), they will leapfrog the men from the Principality with just New Zealand (1st), England (2nd), Australia (3rd) and Ireland (4th) ahead of them.

 

It also puts them ahead of the Springboks (6th), Wales (7th) and France (8th).

If, and it’s a big if considering they’re on a record breaking winning streak and Scotland haven’t won there since 1983, Scotland were to beat England at Twickenham and Wales were to beat Ireland at the Millennium Stadium, then Scotland would actually move up even further into 4th. One can dream.

Cotter has brought out the best in his players

The impressive results and new ranking will further call in question the SRU’s decision to replace Vern Cotter with Glasgow Warriors Coach Gregor Townsend, despite the New Zealander’s stated desire to carry on in the role. As Scotland’s most successful coach of the new Millennium, it certainly will be a shame to lose the man nicknamed ‘Stern Vern’.

Let’s just hope Toonie can keep the upward trajectory of these this talented young team that, in many ways, he also helped shape.

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Watch Highlights of Scotland’s Victory Over Wales

Credit: RBS 6 Nations.

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618 Comments

  56. As an Irish man I’m genuinely happy for the Scots. We know all to we’ll what it’s like to be shit for too long. Scottish Rugby deserves their results..they have been consistent.

    That said I still think we were asleep for the start of the match..see you lot next year in Dublin!

  57. As an Irish man I’m genuinely happy for the Scots. We know all to we’ll what it’s like to be shit for too long. Scottish Rugby deserves their results..they have been consistent.

    That said I still think we were asleep for the start of the match..see you lot next year in Dublin!

  58. I just don’t understand the decision to replace Vern. He has got the players playing the best rugby I’ve ever seen a Scotland team play, they seem to love playing for him. I understand Townsend has had some success but not consistently and not at a high enough level to be worth bringing in over Vern. Townsend’s ego will absolutely get in the way.

  59. I just don’t understand the decision to replace Vern. He has got the players playing the best rugby I’ve ever seen a Scotland team play, they seem to love playing for him. I understand Townsend has had some success but not consistently and not at a high enough level to be worth bringing in over Vern. Townsend’s ego will absolutely get in the way.

  107. So proud of everyone involved. Now we have to wait two weeks to the next game!!!Also that team we put out yesterday was not 100% first choice players. Look at the depth of talent we have I think that shows us all that we are that nation again! #AsOne #Veryproud

  108. So proud of everyone involved. Now we have to wait two weeks to the next game!!!Also that team we put out yesterday was not 100% first choice players. Look at the depth of talent we have I think that shows us all that we are that nation again! #AsOne #Veryproud

  120. It makes absolutely no sense at all to replace cotter now. He’s got the team where we all want them to be. It’s a poison chalice for Toonie now; he’s inheriting a team with a high level of expectation and there’s a real possibility he won’t be able to maintain that. And why disrupt a winning combination just when they’re hitting the levels they’ve threatened for a couple of years? Madness

  121. It makes absolutely no sense at all to replace cotter now. He’s got the team where we all want them to be. It’s a poison chalice for Toonie now; he’s inheriting a team with a high level of expectation and there’s a real possibility he won’t be able to maintain that. And why disrupt a winning combination just when they’re hitting the levels they’ve threatened for a couple of years? Madness

  172. Vem has done Scotland proud with the team he is amazing and i wish he would remain for the forseeable future his passion and dedication he has done that rugby team wonders wish he would stay they should keep him

  173. Vem has done Scotland proud with the team he is amazing and i wish he would remain for the forseeable future his passion and dedication he has done that rugby team wonders wish he would stay they should keep him

  235. Being 5th at the end of the 6N means we will be second seed in pool one for the RWC , joined by whoever is in 9th. So our pool could be NZ, Scotland, Argentina and whoever is in 13th, currently Tonga

  236. Being 5th at the end of the 6N means we will be second seed in pool one for the RWC , joined by whoever is in 9th. So our pool could be NZ, Scotland, Argentina and whoever is in 13th, currently Tonga

  237. Well done Scotland. Great game and great to see you backing up performances week on week. It’s been brewing for a while.
    Don’t let Cotter go and make sure you beat the f’ing English 🙂

  238. Well done Scotland. Great game and great to see you backing up performances week on week. It’s been brewing for a while.
    Don’t let Cotter go and make sure you beat the f’ing English 🙂

  264. I for one am happy about this. As an Englishman who grew up in the Highlands, I follow Scotland a lot and the last 10 years or so have been awful. Scotland will again be a world beater. Six Nations? I wouldn’t bet against them.

  265. I for one am happy about this. As an Englishman who grew up in the Highlands, I follow Scotland a lot and the last 10 years or so have been awful. Scotland will again be a world beater. Six Nations? I wouldn’t bet against them.

  279. Despite the growing pains, Cotter has enjoyed unwavering confidence and trust of the faithful Scottish support. Frankly I wouldn’t want to lose him because one of our rivals will snap him up. We must retain him in the organisation in some capacity.

  280. Despite the growing pains, Cotter has enjoyed unwavering confidence and trust of the faithful Scottish support. Frankly I wouldn’t want to lose him because one of our rivals will snap him up. We must retain him in the organisation in some capacity.

  299. So when we beat the English in a fortnights time claim the triple crown and Calcutta Cup and give ourselves the opportunity of the championship and all the gingbang! Carlsberg…. do yur stuff

  300. So when we beat the English in a fortnights time claim the triple crown and Calcutta Cup and give ourselves the opportunity of the championship and all the gingbang! Carlsberg…. do yur stuff

  316. Getting rid of Vern is a huge mistake. Scotland have been growing stronger for years and Vern has focused it and achieved success. Work still to do, but finally we’re getting there. Scotland are by far the team of the championship and I’m bursting with pride. Hope the SRU don’t derail it post Vern. They don’t have s good track record.

  317. Getting rid of Vern is a huge mistake. Scotland have been growing stronger for years and Vern has focused it and achieved success. Work still to do, but finally we’re getting there. Scotland are by far the team of the championship and I’m bursting with pride. Hope the SRU don’t derail it post Vern. They don’t have s good track record.

  396. Brilliant … I worry that Townsend will destroy all the progress … he was ever a fairly ordinary player and never had enough vision or tactical nous on the park … does seem daft to me to replace Cotter …

  397. Brilliant … I worry that Townsend will destroy all the progress … he was ever a fairly ordinary player and never had enough vision or tactical nous on the park … does seem daft to me to replace Cotter …

  452. Both Towndend and Cotter have proved themselves at their respective levels and have nothing to prove, its the SRU that worry me, they couldn’t organise a decent piss up in a brewery.

  453. Both Towndend and Cotter have proved themselves at their respective levels and have nothing to prove, its the SRU that worry me, they couldn’t organise a decent piss up in a brewery.

  456. Excellent Scotland! Really need to work on the scrum though. Tremendous ball control, must say. Nice running, less kicking, good movement in the loose play, its actually a pleasure to see how you guys have improved. Best of luck against England. What you guys are doing you doing it right, just get the scrum sorted out.

  457. Excellent Scotland! Really need to work on the scrum though. Tremendous ball control, must say. Nice running, less kicking, good movement in the loose play, its actually a pleasure to see how you guys have improved. Best of luck against England. What you guys are doing you doing it right, just get the scrum sorted out.

  472. Well deserved Scotland, I am so pleased for the squad and Vern Cotter. As said in the article it does seriously call into question the SRU’s decision to let Vern go, he has worked wonders with the squad and if he were to stay I guess we would see even greater things. I have serious doubts about Gregor Townsend, I think perhaps in the future but I think he needs more experience perhaps coaching abroad.

  473. Well deserved Scotland, I am so pleased for the squad and Vern Cotter. As said in the article it does seriously call into question the SRU’s decision to let Vern go, he has worked wonders with the squad and if he were to stay I guess we would see even greater things. I have serious doubts about Gregor Townsend, I think perhaps in the future but I think he needs more experience perhaps coaching abroad.

  494. Vern has done a great job, as has Gregor Townsend with Glasgow Warriors being currently in the top 8 club teams in Europe, in spite of all the money that is in the French and English leagues. The Glasgow players have kept their club form up in the Internationals. Gregor deserves enormous credit for bringing through these exciting young players and helping them to get to the level that they’re currently showing. I’m excited about the future of Scottish rugby, no one knows the players better than Gregor and he has his players playing brilliantly. I’m sure it will continue when he takes over the reins with Scotland. I wonder if the players are managing to summon such high levels of work rate and heart because Vern is leaving and they want to give him a great send-off? It probably helps.

  495. Vern has done a great job, as has Gregor Townsend with Glasgow Warriors being currently in the top 8 club teams in Europe, in spite of all the money that is in the French and English leagues. The Glasgow players have kept their club form up in the Internationals. Gregor deserves enormous credit for bringing through these exciting young players and helping them to get to the level that they’re currently showing. I’m excited about the future of Scottish rugby, no one knows the players better than Gregor and he has his players playing brilliantly. I’m sure it will continue when he takes over the reins with Scotland. I wonder if the players are managing to summon such high levels of work rate and heart because Vern is leaving and they want to give him a great send-off? It probably helps.