SYDNEY: Two-time world champions Australia have fallen to a record low of 10th in the world rankings after Italy's win over Scotland at the weekend lifted the Azzurri to ninth.
Wallabies winger Luis Raina, son of great Michael, scores his debut try as Italy beat title-chasers Scotland 31-29 in Rome on Saturday for their first home win in the Six Nations in 11 years. Ta.
The Wallabies won only two of their nine Tests under coach Eddie Jones last season, losing to Fiji and Wales and being knocked out of the World Cup pool stages for the first time.
Australia will play their first game under new coach Joe Schmidt in July, playing two games at home against eighth-placed Wales and one game against Georgia.
There have been glimmers of hope for Australian rugby in the first three rounds of the new Super Rugby Pacific season, but wins against a dominant New Zealand team have been rare in recent seasons.
The New South Wales Waratahs dominated reigning champions Canterbury Crusaders in the second round, while the Queensland Reds, whose flyhalf Tom, another of Raina's sons, defeated the pace-setting Waikato Chiefs in Brisbane last weekend. Broke it.
Despite England's Six Nations wins over South Africa and Ireland at the weekend, the All Blacks remain third in the table behind world champions South Africa and Ireland.
New Zealand will play England twice at home and face Fiji in San Diego in July.