Scotland are ranked the fifth best men’s international side in the world following a spectacular victory against England in the Six Nations.
Gregor Townsend’s squad have moved above South Africa in the World Rugby rankings after beating the Auld Enemy 25-13 in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash.
The victory, Scotland’s first against England since 2008, earned the boys in blue just under 1.5 points to move them to fifth in the table.
Finn Russell was named man of the match following a thrilling display which saw Huw Jones claim two tries and Sean Maitland one.
Meanwhile the Scots are now third in the overall Six Nations table after two wins and one defeat in the championship, with England at number two and the Irish undefeated at the top.
How will it finish? #NatWest6Nations
FULL TABLE: https://t.co/g88HAX9yOR pic.twitter.com/fPwUDmJvpA
— Six Nations Rugby (@SixNationsRugby) February 26, 2018
The World Rugby rankings system determines the top sides in both men’s and women’s rugby using a points exchange system.
Teams take points from one another based on results. Whatever one side gains, the other loses.
Scotland 25 England 13: Scots mix skill and grit to win shock Calcutta Cup victory
Scotland now have 84.43 points in the World Rugby rankings table, just a little more than one point away from matching Australia in the top four.
The team has also won six home games back to back in the Six Nations. It comes following victories against Australia and Samoa during the 2017 Autumn Internationals, with the side also coming agonisingly close to beating New Zealand.
The All Blacks remain dominant at the top of the World Rugby rankings on 93.99 points, with England second with 89.38 and Ireland third on 87.21.
Scotland take pride of place at fifth in the rankings ahead of the likes of Wales, Argentina and France.
England lost 1.47 points in the World Rugby rankings following the defeat at Murrayfield, with a 2.27 point gap between Eddie Jones’s men and Ireland.
A statement on the World Rugby website said: “Scotland’s first win over England in 10 years has seen them climb up to fifth in the World Rugby Rankings.
? Six Nations: Scotland v England
Flower of Scotland.
? BBC Radio Scotland 810MW/digital
? https://t.co/0aUgJxJFTi#SCOvENG #CalcuttaCup pic.twitter.com/yEzSuUI2gm— BBC Sportsound (@BBCSportsound) February 24, 2018
“The 25-13 victory continued their impressive form at Murrayfield – they have now won six on the bounce at home in the Six Nations – and was worth a fraction under one and a half points, enough to take them above both Wales and South Africa.
“The Scots now have 84.43 points and are just over a point away from catching Australia and claiming a place in the top four for the first time since the rankings were introduced in October 2003.”
