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By Wayne Smith (via Fox Sports)
October 24, 2005
The Wallabies, who lost second place on the IRB world rankings to South Africa early in the Tri-Nations series, could go into rankings freefall if things go badly on the spring tour.
Four straight losses have left the Wallabies (84.85 points) with only a 0.72 lead over France, their first Test opponents on tour, in Marseille on November 5.
Then follows sixth-placed England (82.81) at Twickenham on November 12, seventh-placed Ireland (82.14) in Dublin on November 19 and fifth-placed Wales (83.08) in Cardiff on November 26.
The Wallabies have never been lower than fourth on the IRB rankings, and only once in the Jones era have they lost to a team outside the top five, to Ireland at Lansdowne Road in November 2002.
Small wonder the Wallabies coach recently remarked "we owe them one".
But so congested are the teams bunched below New Zealand (91.95) and South Africa (88.99) that any extension of their losing run could see the Wallabies tumble down the ladder.