Rugby World Cup 2015: Power Ranking Teams Entering Final Pool Games

Only two places remain in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2015 heading into this weekend's last round of pool-stage action, with Argentina, Scotland, Japan and Tonga still fighting for their futures.

There's also the small matter of deciding the order of each team's finish, and a drama-fuelled period lies ahead as the standings look primed to fluctuate and alter the quarter-final formula.

Wales and Australia collide at Twickenham on Saturday in a match that ejected hosts England will view with bitter regret, while European heavyweights Ireland and France meet on Sunday in the race to top Pool D.

Looking at the past week of results and tournament form up until now, we provide a look at the latest World Cup power rankings, but be sure to check out last week's rundown before checking how your team has fared.

20. Namibia

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Movement: Down Two

Namibia will be crestfallen after Wednesday saw the African representatives hammer on Georgia's door despite suffering three yellow cards and still managing to emerge with just a losing bonus point to their name.

The 16-17 loss seemed as though it might turn in favour of Phil Davies men right at the death, and Namibia even looked the more technically capable outfit for periods.

However, you simply can't miss 48 tackles in a Test-level match—such was the terrible effort made by Namibia in defence. Earning their first-ever World Cup point serves as a memorable bonus, though.

19. Uruguay

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Movement: Up One

Grit, heart, spirit—these are all words one might associate with Uruguay's surprisingly threatening performance against Fiji, where it was only a collapse in the last 20 minutes that led to their 47-15 defeat.

Carlos Arboleya scored to bring an end to Uruguay's 12-year wait for a World Cup try, with Agustin Ormaechea providing a brilliant second to suggest Pablo Lemoine's young squad are on the way up.

18. United States

Movement: Down One

Despite the proud words of stand-in captain Samu Manoa (see video), the United States' 64-0 blowout at the hands of South Africa on Wednesday was an outing bereft of positives, sliding the Eagles down in our order.

Granted, the Springboks are a difficult enemy to face with a spring in their step, but a much-changed American lineup seemed almost devoid of motivation, not to mention any type of competitive edge.

17. Canada

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Movement: Down One

Canada coach Kieran Crowley was dismayed on Tuesday after seeing his side succumb to the biggest comeback in Rugby World Cup history, losing a 15-0 lead to surrender 17-15 at the hands of Romania.

DTH van der Merwe and Jeff Hassler were predictable stars for the Maple Leafs, but ill discipline had its cost and the Canadian pack in particular ultimately collapsed—and deservedly so.

Canada end their tournament with only two losing bonus points to show for their troubles and 18 points being the highest managed in any of their fixtures (against France and Italy).

16. Romania

Movement: Up Three

A comeback triumph over Canada was ideal for Romania to prepare for their pool-stage curtain call against Italy on Sunday, where they still have the chance to finish third in Pool D.

The Oaks showed resounding fortitude to return from a 15-point deficit and score all their points in the final 28 minutes at Leicester's King Power Stadium, ensuring they'll finish with at least one win to their name.

To beat the Azzurri, Lynn Howells' side must keep operating through the strength of their forward pack, with their back line still struggling to contend against their more elite counterparts.

15. Samoa

Movement: Down Two

Samoa's 26-5 defeat to Japan in Week 3 proved to be an all too appropriate juxtaposition of playing styles, with Stephen Betham's men rowdy and indisciplined while the Cherry Blossoms were well regimented and sturdy.

It was therefore little surprise to see Samoa fall after being reduced to 13 men at one stage, committing a series of errors in judgement where cooler heads would have prevailed.

Rugby World editor Owain Jones went so far as to label Samoa's display "a mess," but he fairly acknowledged their union troubles and conflict off the pitch is hardly helping matters on it.

14. Italy

Movement: Up One

It's almost a double-edged sword that Sergio Parisse's return to the Italy squad made such a great impact in their 16-9 defeat to Ireland, showing what an asset he is, but again how disappointing it can be that a team relies so heavily on one player.

Nevertheless, the Azzurri will savour the talents of such a rare commodity, and they drove the Boys in Green far closer than many might have predicted while earning an extremely valuable bonus point in their search for third.

Jacques Brunel will see that his lineout needs improving after Italy won just 12 of their 17 throws and defended just 29 percent of their own mauls, evidence that a cleaner approach is needed from the forwards.

13. Tonga

Movement: Down One

For all the bluster they've shown against the likes of Georgia and, most recently, Argentina, Tonga have struggled to show much end product at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, losing 45-16 to the Pumas in Week 3.

That looked like being a close encounter after both teams mustered two first-half tries apiece, but it became a familiar storyline of the physical behemoth falling victim to the more energetic and drilled superior in the end.

If Tonga can find a way to hold ever so slightly back and prolong their passionate, no-holds-barred approach, they have the physical traits necessary to make the next step in their rugby evolution.

12. Georgia

Movement: Up Two

It was slow, ugly, and at times looked as though it might even evade their grasp, but Georgia rose to grind out the slimmest of wins over Namibia on Wednesday evening, with captain Mamuka Gorgodze again leading their charge.

A second pool victory means Milton Haig's men most likely have third place in Pool C sealed, and a place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan should be theirs providing Tonga do as expected and fall to New Zealand come Friday.

11. Fiji

Movement: No Movement

The opposition of a significantly weaker defence in Uruguay gave Fiji a very welcome opportunity to finish their tournament with a flourish on Tuesday, beating the Toros 47-15 with a seven-try display.

Aside from the usually flying backs, however, this victory showcased the terrifying strength of John McKee's pack once again, and it's just a shame we're losing arguably the most entertaining team so early on.

10. Scotland

Movement: Down One

There were no gripes or grievances to be felt from Scotland as they slipped to a 34-16 defeat at South Africa's hands in Week 3, just about ruling out any preconceived plans of topping Pool B as a result.

Vern Cotter's men were soundly beaten in just about every department, with the Springboks' scrum ruling supreme and their backs holding a vice over possession and territory in a way that hasn't always been possible of late.

With new motivation behind their cause, Heyneke Meyer's side were in very difficult form to stop, and while the Scots will claim some positives, it proved to be a fair defeat by anyone's standards.

9. Japan

Movement: Up One

The general consensus agreed Japan's 26-5 win over Samoa stood as evidence that if Eddie Jones' men had more than four days to prepare between Tests against South Africa and Scotland, they would have fared far better against the latter.

Unfortunately, what's done is done, and scheduling controversy or no, the Brave Blossoms appear set to exit the tournament providing the Scots do as expected and defeat Samoa this Saturday.

Even if that is the case, Japan once again showed against the Samoans just how adept they are in orchestrating tactics to a tee. To cap matters off, World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper confirmed the match was watched by a record sum of 25 million people, proving Japan continues to grow as a force in the sport.

8. England

Movement: Down Three

And so it came to be that the worst imaginable fate befell England, whose 33-13 throttling against the Wallabies was as limp and concise an exit the host nation could have expected in front of a horrified Twickenham.

At least the English portions of the stadium will have been so, having witnessed their entire plan go awry amid selection discrepancies, poor discipline (largely from Owen Farrell and substitute Sam Burgess) and a general lack of accountability.

The Red Rose understandably plummet through our rankings after joining Fiji and Uruguay in Pool A's non-qualified contingent, whimpering out of the competition on the back of a most decisive loss to the Wallabies.

6= France

Movement: No Movement

Aside from their 41-18 win against Canada, perhaps the best thing France fans witnessed this past week was Ireland's tighter-than-expected showdown with Italy, making Sunday's crunch Pool D clash only more interesting.

The Canada victory was a big stepping stone for Les Bleus in that it was the first time in this tournament they've actually managed to start with a bit of gas, bagging three tries before half-time.

Of course, the Maple Leafs will be considered the easiest prey after finishing bottom of Pool D, but Philippe Saint-Andre's men will take a well-timed ego boost as a result before Sunday's decider against the Irish.

6= Argentina

Movement: Up One

Argentina's place in the World Cup quarter-finals was effectively sealed thanks to Sunday's 45-16 win over Tonga, the same team who would need to upset New Zealand on Friday to prevent the Pumas from advancing.

A slow-burner though it was, Argentina's back line once again ran rampant against a tiring defence to illustrate just how far the South Americans have come from their reputation as a forward-oriented side.

For the second match in succession, the Pumas' stamina proved superior to that of their opponents' as they ran in the majority of their tries later on, with lowly Namibia the final Pool C foe left to face.

5. South Africa

Movement: Up Three

Looking back, the 34-32 defeat to Japan in Week 1 of this tournament may just have been the best thing that could have happened to South Africa, rousing a giant that had been asleep for far, far too long.

Bryan Habana crossed the whitewash on three occasions in the Wednesday's 64-0 hammering of the United States, the only unanswered scoreline of this year's tournament so far, with the victors clinching a massive 10 tries.

Springboks confidence continues to build from the lowest of lows experienced three weeks ago, and Rugby World's Ian Stafford says equilibrium has been restored as Heyneke Meyer's side now sit back among the favourites.

4. Ireland

Movement: Down Two

Joe Schmidt's Ireland take a sizeable backwards step in our power rankings despite beating Italy 16-9 on Sunday, a fixture that was made to look far more difficult than it should ever have been.

Needlessly kicking possession away and a flout of defensive errors were most to blame for an overly convoluted performance, one that they'll need to improve drastically upon if they're to beat France.

A new midfield partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Keith Earls perhaps took its toll on the team, but a more familiar lineup on Sunday should lead to improved synchronicity.

3. Wales

Movement: Down One

Someone wise once put it that "a win's a win," and having already got a certain England-shaped hurdle out of their way, Wales will be looking upon their 23-13 beating of Fiji in Week 3 with precisely that viewpoint.

McKee's men once again helped light up the World Cup in Cardiff, Wales, and threw caution to the wind as they tested the Dragons, but Warren Gatland's charges can be content that a weakened lineup pulled through.

Wales now look towards Saturday's Pool A decider against Australia with a squad full of fit options, having ridden a tough storm against Fiji—albeit nowhere near as comfortably as they would have liked.

2. New Zealand

Movement: Down One

Had there been a more competitive feel to Pool C, New Zealand may well have kept their place atop our power rankings, but a sometimes awkward 43-10 win over Georgia sees the All Blacks surrender their perch for now.

The talent is there for all to see, that much is plainly clear. But after sealing four tries and a bonus point after 22 minutes against Georgia, New Zealand's stars seemed to switch off in what was an out-of-character lull by their usually sky-high standards.

Steve Hansen's men nonetheless retain their perfect World Cup record and will still win their group, but it's plausible a relatively easy pool run has seeded some complacency among players.

1. Australia

Movement: Up Three

Being placed in the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool of Death was an obstacle from the start, but Australia have come through with flying colours after sealing their spot in the last eight with a 33-13 thrashing of England.

The scrum worked in their favour, the backs were clinical, and Michael Cheika's side have now scored a total of 126 points after three games, second only to New Zealand, which is all the more impressive considering their pool opponents.

The Wallabies leap to the throne in our power rankings ahead of a crucial pool decider against Wales, where they'll hope to avoid a quarter-final berth opposite Pool B winners South Africa.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.