Wales have climbed to second in the world rankings after Saturday’s thrilling victory over England, while the Rugby World Cup hosts have slumped to six after the chastening Twickenham defeat.

Warren Gatland’s injury-hit Welsh stunned England by fighting back to win 28-25 with a converted Gareth Davies try and Dan Biggar penalty in the last 10 minutes and are at their highest position since the rankings began in 2003.

England, now faced with a tough task to qualify from Pool A, dropped three places.

New Zealand remain top of the pile, while Australia, who face England on Saturday in a pivotal clash, drop from two to three.

Six Nations champions Ireland are fourth and South Africa, who bounced back from their shock defeat against Japan to beat Samoa at the weekend, are at five.

Scotland’s back-to-back wins over Japan and the United States have lifted Vern Cotter’s team three places to nine.

Meanwhile, Wales centre Scott Williams and winger Hallam Amos have been ruled out of the World Cup following injuries sustained in the win over England, the Welsh Rugby Union said .

Williams suffered a knee injury and Amos a dislocated shoulder at Twickenham on Saturday.

They will be replaced by James Hook and Gareth Anscombe, who were both in the World Cup training squad.

Hook, who has 78 caps, will appear in his third World Cup squad while Anscombe made his international debut against Ireland in August.

Playing today
Pool C: 17.45 Tonga vs Namibia.

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