Rampant Springboks return to the top of world rankings

New Zealand’s four-week reign at No.1 in the world rankings is over following the latest round of matches in The Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks‘ second-half capitulation at the hands of South Africa in Wellington on Saturday has resulted in them being knocked off top spot and replaced by the triumphant Springboks.

South Africa had begun their Rugby Championship title defence as the world’s number one team, but ceded that status to the All Blacks after they’d been shocked by Australia in round one.

However, the reigning world champions are now back on top, the record-breaking 43-10 win at Sky Stadium earning them 2.25 points and a new rating of 91.62 points.

The All Blacks, whose stay at the top is the shortest since France spent one week there in July 2022, lost an equal amount of points in exchange, and their new rating of 89.10 places them third, with Ireland remaining in second.

In the other game, Argentina’s 28-26 win over Australia has resulted in Los Pumas moving up into the first band of seeds for the RWC 2027 draw. They are now sixth, with the Wallabies dropping to seventh.

South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina weren’t the only teams to move up and down the rankings this weekend, as results from the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup also had an impact.

Most dramatic of all the changes was the USA’s three-place climb to 16th, on the back of their RWC 2027 qualification-securing, 29-13 win over Samoa.

Samoa, who must beat Chile in a two-legged play-off – or otherwise face the lottery of the Final Qualification Tournament – to make it to Australia, have dropped a place and are now 15th. As a consequence, Spain have moved up to a record high of 14th.

Neither Fiji nor Japan gained any places for putting 60 points on Tonga and Canada, respectively, as they set up a repeat of last year’s PNC final.

They remain in ninth and 13th, although the Brave Blossoms’ rating has improved by 0.52 points to 73.92.

Tonga have dropped three places to 19th and are now just one place away from matching their all-time low of 20th.

World Rankings Top 10*

1. South Africa – 91.62
2. Ireland – 89.83
3. New Zealand – 89.10
4. France – 87.82
5. England – 87.64
6. Argentina – 84.40
7. Australia – 83.85
8. Scotland – 81.57
9. Fiji – 80.86
10. Italy – 77.77

*Officially updated at noon on Monday (BST)