NICK GATT

Malta are the biggest movers in the latest IRB World Rankings with a five place climb to 50th following their 16-13 home victory over the higher ranked Latvia in their European Nations Cup Division 2B encounter in Corradino on Saturday.

The victory improves Malta’s rating points by 1.19 to 45.72 and their new position equals the highest ever they have previously occupied on a number of previous occasions in 2004 and 2006.

Malta’s rise means that Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Lithuania and Switzerland all drop one position, while Latvia themselves fall three to 45th with Kenya, Ivory Coast and Croatia all moving up one as a consequence of the defeat.

The other nation on the rise after a European Nations Cup victory is Hungary with a three place climb to 66th following their 32-6 defeat of Bulgaria away in Mezdra, a victory that also takes them to the top of Division 3B above Lithuania.

Colombia, Slovenia and Bermuda all fall one place as a result of Hungary’s victory, while the defeat means Bulgaria drop one position to 92nd and swap places with Vanuatu.

The weekend’s only other European Nations Cup match did not result in a positional change, although Moldova did close to within 0.03 points of 26th ranked Germany with 15-13 defeat of the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Moldova actually face Germany this weekend in Heidelberg – one of four European Nations Cup matches and Wales’ one-off Test with world champions South Africa on Saturday – so could improve on their position, while the Netherlands remain 46th.