Zimbabwe’s national women’s fifteens rugby team were the biggest movers in this week’s World Rugby Women’s Rankings jumping four places from 49th to 45th following their 72-0 defeat of Namibia at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2022 on Sunday.
The Lady Sables’ victory completed a remarkable turnaround of fortunes as they bounced back from their opening 108-0 defeat to hosts South Africa in Cape Town last Wednesday.
The Lady Sables’ first win in the 2022 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup competition was a thing of beauty as they had been written off after succumbing to a dispiriting 108-0 defeat to a star-studded South Africa side.
Against the odds, the lady sables produced a spectacular display full of flair and speed to underline the significant strides women’s rugby has been making over the last couple of years.
The victory was a welcome relief for Lady Sables interim head coach Lissy Wasarirevu, who is eager to turn around the team’s fortunes after taking charge of the team recently.
The Lady Sables will return home with a spring in their step as they wait for the next fixtures expected to be announced soon by Rugby Africa.
South Africa’s Springbok Women were not able to improve on 13th place in the Women’s Rankings in spite of the size of their triumph against Zimbabwe.
Namibia, meanwhile, dropped two places to 57th, below Philippines and Luxembourg as a result of their loss to Zimbabwe.
Pre #PacificFour2022 > Post #PacificFour2022
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— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 20, 2022
New Zealand remain second behind England in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini following their World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2022 title-clinching defeat of the USA.
The Black Ferns beat the Women’s Eagles 50-6 in Whangarei as Ayesha Leti-I’iga scored three of her side’s eight tries.
Victory ensured that the hosts secured the Pacific Four Series crown at the very first attempt, however, it was not enough to eat into England’s 7.21 rating-point lead at the top of the Women’s Rankings.
Despite defeat, the USA remain fifth, 9.53 rating points behind North American rivals Canada who beat Australia 22-10 in Whangarei on Saturday.
Canada finished the 2022 Pacific Four Series behind the Black Ferns in second thanks to victory against the winless Australians.
The win meant they remain fourth in the Women’s Rankings, 0.75 rating points behind third-place France. Australia ended the Pacific Four Series in eighth, with less than two rating points separating them and fifth-placed USA.