Georgia and Russia may both have confirmed their places at Rugby World Cup 2011 over the weekend, but the European Nations Cup rivals have enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the latest IRB World Rankings.
The Lelos, who qualified for a third successive Rugby World Cup by virtue of a 17-9 victory over Spain in Tbilisi, have climbed one place to 16th despite the win - a seventh in eight European Nations Cup matches - over 23rd ranked Spain not improving their rating.
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The one place elevation comes as a result of Russia drawing 21-21 with Romania on home soil in Sochi, an outcome which sees their rating fall by six tenths, enough to drop them beneath both Georgia and USA, albeit only by two hundredths in the latter's case.
Romania remain 19th despite improving their rating by the same margin, although they have now closed to within two points of the Russians and stretched their cushion over Uruguay to more than four rating points.
Germany were the biggest fallers of the week, though, with a three-place slide to 29th on the back of an heavy 69-0 loss to Portugal in Heusenstamm in the weekend's other match in the European Nations Cup top tier.
Gonçalo Foro scored a hat-trick as Portugal ran in nine tries at the Kultur-und Sportzentrum Martinsee to keep them in the hunt for third place in the standings to keep their dreams of playing at RWC 2011 alive.
The emphatic victory does not improve Portugal's position of 21st in the IRB World Rankings, although they have closed the gap to Uruguay above them to just over four tenths of a rating point.
Germany are still seeking a first victory in their return to the top flight after two decades away and third heavy loss in four weeks means that Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Brazil all climb one place.
No positional changes in Six Nations
The third round of matches in the RBS Six Nations did not result in any positional changes in the IRB World Rankings, although France, Ireland and Italy did improve their rating points with victories.
France could have gone third in the rankings - ending southern hemisphere dominance since mid-2008 - with a victory by more than 15 points over Wales, but the 26-20 triumph at the Millennium Stadium on Friday has cut the deficit to Australia to 0.34 points.
Ireland remain fifth after Tommy Bowe's late try secured a 20-16 victory over England at Twickenham, improving their rating by just over a point to leave them less than seven tenths below France, the only side now capable of winning the Grand Slam.
England's advantage over seventh ranked Argentina is now only fourth hundredths, with the RWC 2011 pool opponents nearly four points adrift of Ireland. Wales' rating has also fallen with their home loss to France, although they remain eighth.
Italy's first Six Nations victory in almost two years - ironically also against Scotland in Rome - was not enough to improve their position of 11th, although the 16-12 win at the Stadio Flaminio has more than halved their deficit to the Scots to 1.28 rating points.
The only match this weekend not to have an impact on the IRB World Rankings was Greece's 31-10 victory over Finland in Patras. This is because Greece are not yet a Full Member Union of the International Rugby Board and therefore not ranked.
