Rugby World Cup 2015: Power Ranking Teams Going into Semi-Finals

We could hardly have hoped for a more entertaining quarter-final schedule at the Rugby World Cup 2015 as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina emerged as the four teams to make up the final four.

The northern hemisphere's giants will be bitterly disappointed to not contribute even one semi-finalist for the first time in the tournament's history, but the neutral fan could hardly be dismayed with the drama on show.

As a result, the Rugby Championship representatives now make up the official World Rugby rankings, and Bleacher Report's power rankings have responded in kind with another shuffle of the international order.

Pool-Eliminated Teams

Jon Super/Associated Press

20. Uruguay: No Movement

19. Namibia: No Movement

18. Canada: No Movement

17. United States: No Movement

16. Romania: No Movement

15. Tonga: No Movement

14. Samoa: No Movement

12= Georgia: No Movement

12= Italy: No Movement

11. Fiji: No Movement

10. Japan: No Movement

9. England: No Movement

8. France

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Movement: Down One

Embarrassed, disheveled, broken. France bowed out of this year's World Cup on Saturday after conceding a record 62 points to New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium, Wales.

Of course, we're talking about a very special All Blacks team in this instance, but it hardly counts as an excuse for a team of France's stature, who now face a tremendous rebuild under incoming boss Guy Noves.

Philippe Saint-Andre's last game at the helm ended in shame less than a week after falling to Ireland, and South Africa prop Jannie du Plessis did a fine job of summarising their exit, per the official Rugby World Cup Twitter feed: "They [New Zealand] didn't just stick the knife it, they put it in and turned it and the French felt the full wrath."

7. Scotland

Movement: Up One

There's hardly any consoling the Scottish masses at present after they were—as they and many other fans see it—"robbed" of a place in the last eight after seeing Australia benefit from a last-minute penalty decision from referee Craig Joubert.

World Rugby have rubbed salt in the still very fresh wound by admitting Joubert made the wrong call in a statement released on Monday, per the Independent's Chris Hewett.

Although it may not seem like much consolation, the Scots can stand proud with their performance and, in time, will come to appreciate just how far they pushed some of the best the southern hemisphere has to offer.

Peter Horne, Tommy Seymour and Mark Bennett ran in a trio of tries varying greatly in manner, and it says a lot for Scotland's improvements that the team can afford to be so crestfallen given their opposition.

6. Ireland

Movement: Down Four

From hero to zero in 15 minutes, Ireland descended from potential World Cup contenders to just another European also-ran after a decisive 43-20 defeat to Argentina on Sunday.

In truth, there are few excuses that can be made for a team who found themselves trailing 17-0 after 13 minutes, and ESPN's Miguel Delaney simply couldn't sympathise with Joe Schmidt's men after that sluggish start.

The comeback attempt looked mighty indeed as substitute Luke Fitzgerald inspired some rejuvenation, but perhaps even the presence of absent figures such as Johnny Sexton, Sean O'Brien and Paul O'Connell wouldn't have turned this tide.

5. Wales

Movement: No Movement

A nation was left in mourning as Wales' hopes of a fairytale journey to the semi-finals came undone on Saturday thanks to a late try given up to South Africa captain Fourie du Preez.

What made Wales' efforts so valiant, of course, is that their injury woes throughout the competition have been the worst of any team, and to even come through Pool A ahead of England as they did was commendable.

To then go and lose to the Springboks 23-19 once again referenced the depth in Warren Gatland's squad, but it was half-back stars Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies—accounting for all 19 of their points—who stood out most.

One journalist made the error of asking coach Gatland to sum up his emotions after possibly the toughest defeat of his Wales career, with a rising South Africa team just proving to be their superiors.

4. Argentina

Movement: Up Two

With 20 minutes to go and Argentina leading Ireland 23-20, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium was braced for a grandstand finish on Sunday, but not the kind of finish that would result in another 20 points for the Pumas.

However, the strength of Daniel Hourcade's backs shone through just as it had at the beginning, with Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff in particular standing out as the main dangers of the day.

The Boys in Green pushed backs to the wall, but Argentina showed amazing resolve to not only weather storm, but end up dancing in the rain.

3. Australia

Movement: Down Two

If Australia are allowed one get-out-of-jail-free card at this year's World Cup, Sunday's one-point win over Scotland was undoubtedly it, and it should be a wake-up call to a team that played outside its comfort zone at the wrong time.

Michael Cheika's men opted for expansive running rugby at times when tighter tactics were needed, but the bare bones of the matter is the win is theirs, and not much else really matters.

That being said, Sydney Morning Herald writer Paul Cully says the Wallabies' chances of getting any 50-50 calls in the rest of the tournament are now dashed, although that's not their fault following Joubert's now-infamous error.

It was particularly odd to see the Australian scrum fall to Scotland on a couple of occasions after working so well up until now, but the return of David Pocock promises to boost their breakdown game for the semi-final against Argentina.

2. South Africa

Movement: Up Two

The reaction of South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer upon hearing the full-time whistle at Twickenham on Saturday told a tale of just what a battle the Springboks had been through to earn their semi-final (see video above).

The team that went 0-3 at this year's Rugby Championship did away with one of the bravest teams in the tournament—albeit understrength—and it was largely the boot of fly-half Handre Pollard that saved their skins.

South Africa are up to third in the official World Rugby rankings, but they've gone one place better in our lineup following Australia's even closer outing against the Scots.

1. New Zealand

Movement: No Movement

What other words are left to describe an outfit that's attracted some of the heaviest praise in rugby this year following New Zealand's 62-13 trouncing of France on Saturday?

Looking at the relatively slim margins by which each other quarter-final was decided, it's really difficult to envision any team stopping the All Blacks at present, especially with Julian "The Bus" Savea as their conductor.

Perhaps a New Zealand win was to be expected, but what wasn't in the crystal ball was nine tries for Steve Hansen's side. Even if this was a poor French team, it's still Les Bleus we're talking about.

And yet, every All Black, from No. 1 to No. 23, was terrific in his exploits, and barring any injury crisis, they'll go on to become the first-ever back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions.