Congratulations to Ireland for being in first place in the World Rugby rankings for the first time since their World Cup quarterfinal loss to New Zealand in Paris a year ago.

So dominant are the Irish that they managed this achievement without setting foot on a rugby pitch or leaving the Emerald Isle. Or even participating in the 2024 Rugby Championship, featuring southern hemisphere nations SA, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, and won by the Springboks with a crushing victory over the Pumas in Mbombela on Saturday...

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