SCOTS SLIP TO NOT SO GLORIOUS 12TH

VERN COTTER’S Scotland have slipped to 12th place in the world rankings again — matching their lowest- ever position — just weeks before the start of the World Cup in England.

Despite not playing at the weekend, they dropped one place f rom 11th f ollowing Tonga’s victory over Scotland’s World Cup opponents, Japan, in the third-place playoff in the Pacific Nations Cup.

That moved the Tongans up to 10th spot and pushed Samoa, another of Scotland’s opponents in Pool B, into 11th above Cotter’s side.

The rankings system was introduced in 2003, with the Scots also having plummeted to the same lowly position in 2012 and 2013.

They will have the chance to improve their status when they begin their warm- up games f or next month’s showpiece tournament with a friendly against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

However, they will be facing a side who have earned a new high of second spot in the world following Saturday’s 35-21 win over Wales.

The Irish deposed South Africa — who are favourites to win Scotland’s World Cup group — with the Springboks dropping three places to fifth following their shock 37-25 loss to Argentina. WORLD RANKINGS: 1 New Zealand; 2 Ireland; 3 Australia; 4 England; 5 South Africa; 6 Wales; 7 France; 8 Argentina; 9 Fiji; 10 Tonga; 11 Samoa; 12 Scotland; 13 Georgia; 14 Italy; 15 Japan; 16 USA; 17 Romania; 18 Canada; 19 Uruguay; 20 Namibia.