World rankings boost for Australia ahead of Lions Test series

Australia will go into the first match of the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions ranked in sixth place, two places higher than they were before the weekend, despite not taking to the field themselves.

Losses for Argentina and Scotland had enough of a negative impact on their rating for them to fall below the Wallabies and drop to seventh and eighth, respectively.

Australia are on 82.08 points, which puts them marginally ahead of the Pumas, whose rating has been trimmed to 82.05 following their second loss to England in as many weeks. Scotland’s rating has fallen to 81.37 as a result of their 29-14 defeat by Fiji.

Sixth is Australia’s highest ranking since the end of January 2023.

At the top, South Africa’s lead over the All Blacks has been cut to just 1.06 points. While South Africa didn’t pick up any additional points for beating Italy for the second time in as many weeks, leaving their rating unchanged at 92.78 points, the All Blacks’ rating was boosted by 0.74 points to 91.72.

Ireland’s record 106-7 win over Ireland did not affect their rating and they remain third, France are fourth and England fifth. The gap between France and England, though, is down to just 0.52 points.

While Fiji remain in ninth, there is now less than a point between them and Scotland. Italy make up the top 10.

Meanwhile, Wales finally broke their 18-match Test losing run with a 31-22 win against Japan. Having squared the series 1-1 in Tokyo, Wales have once again traded places with Japan and moved back to 12th, with the Brave Blossoms dropping to 14th.

Spain’s first-ever win over the USA edged them above the Eagles and into 15th, while their Rugby Europe rivals Belgium also enjoyed success on North American soil, a 25-18 win over Canada putting them above Hong Kong China.

Belgium are now in 22nd place, one off their all-time best.

In the Rugby Africa Cup, one-time Rugby World Cup participants, Ivory Coast, have fallen to their lowest-ever ranking of 64th as a result of their 28-3 loss to Senegal.

Other results also affected the rankings, with a notable drop for tournament hosts Uganda, who fell to a shock defeat to Morocco.

However, finalists Namibia and reigning champions Zimbabwe are unchanged, in 25th and 26th.

How the World Rankings Top 20 will look at Noon (BST) on Monday:

1. South Africa – 92.78
2. New Zealand – 91.72
3. Ireland – 89.83
4. France – 88.16
5. England – 87.64
6. Australia – 82.08
7. Argentina – 82.05
8. Scotland – 81.37
9. Fiji – 80.50
10. Italy – 77.77
11. Georgia – 74.69
12. Wales – 74.05
13. Samoa – 72.68
14. Japan – 72.29
15. Spain – 68.91
16. USA – 68.45
17. Uruguay – 67.42
18. Portugal – 66.45
19. Tonga – 65.46
20. Chile – 63.20