Springboks achieve World Rankings record after wrapping up 3-1 series win

The saffers hate on bender is typical

Put your shamboks away AWB boys

But the way the rankings are calculated has changed now to massively reward teams playing at home. It's not especially difficult to increase your score significantly by playing a home series.

Comparing the rankings now to the rankings pre-2026 is meaningless, as is attempting to use the rankings to get an accurate picture of where teams are at.

That’s Rassie for you. Definitely happy with the win but knows it wasnt as clear cut as the scoreboard suggests. Means he is constantly alert. Not comfortable

We were in Baltimore and enjoyed the Test Match, we sat amongst a bunch of Kiwi Supporters and they were gracious in their comments towards us as Springbok supporters throughout the match. We have tremendous respect for New Zealanders.

Well played Boks, the clear number 1. My ABs are tracking ok though, always tough to suck up defeats but we are young and will get better. De Groot helped our scrum as did big Paddy but the Boks showed how multi-dimensional their game templates can be. Superb really and full respect from an AB fan. Even though some of the refing sucked for us it takes nothing away from the Boks. Congratulations.

So in my view, ratings mean jack #$@&. However it would be interesting to see if the current Springbok team can challenge the highest ever ratings points, which I believe the All Blacks of 2016 still hold at 96.57.

I suppose with Aus and Italy next up for the boks, there won't be many ratings points on offer, but perhaps if they also beat France and Ireland in November they could get close.

Sad that even 24hrs later Rugby Pass still doesn’t have the match available to watch here in the US… so much for growing the game.

Pity we threw away the first game by making so many errors. We could have been on 16 consecutive wins now and then 17 against Australia, 18 against Italy and then set up the mouthwatering prospect of breaking the record for the most consecutive tier 1 test wins against Ireland. That's the only thing left for the Boks to achieve now

This Boks team seemed to reach its physical limits at times (particularly in the last test) … a PSDT, for example, showed that even he is only human and at some point simply runs out of steam

going to Australia in 2027, every position must therefore be covered by two players (as equally as possible)

the positions I see a gap currently too big between the first choice and possible replacements are especially hooker, blindside flanker (PSDT) and outside center …. we will also have to figure out the scrum-half position, Cobus and Grant being great, but not at the level of Dupond or Roigard

I don’t think any other nation has the luxury of these “problems”, but there is work to continue for Rassie & his coaching team ….

I am very happy that the Boks won the series.

Still think there is nothing more exciting than a NZ v Bok rugby game.

Well played NZ, and even though you might not be happy with the result, you never stopped playing your heart out. Respect!

Patiently waiting for the Ben smith article telling us the Boks are aging, everyone knows our game plan now and we aren’t as good as the rankings suggest.

Springboks came into this series way undercooked, lost the first test and then gained momentum in the second and started rolling all the way through.

Lesson to be learned by Rassie & his team, Boks 1st team could have done with a hit out against Wales to freshen up a bit before the Pumas test but they will bank this lesson and use it for next year.

Notwithstanding, the Boks are tracking nicely going into the final leg of the Nations Championship.

IMHO, the best thing about this series was the officials getting the head contact issues right. A breath of fresh air to see some sense and sensibility on the field and in the TMO box.

had they not allowed All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett to cross for a consolation try at the death.

This was one of many frustrations during the series. We kept allowing NZ to make late comeback scores.

Only hit 3rd gear in the 4th test without a general at 10, Boks need to sharpen up and stop leaving points out there.

Considering how poor they were over RGR series. Amazeballs.

Great achievement and still so much room for improvement. Well done to Rassie, his staff and the players.