The Springboks have edged further clear at the top of the World Rugby rankings after Saturday’s result against Scotland in the Nations Championship.
Rassie Erasmus’ world champions needed a 15-point winning margin from the Loftus Versfeld Test to add a full 0.03 rating points, but settled for 0.02 after their 42-28 victory.
England and Scotland swapped places in the top 10 for a second straight week. The Scots’ opening-round win in the Nations Championship over Argentina had lifted them to a joint-best fifth.
But defeat to the Boks, combined with England’s 73-8 demolition of Fiji, reversed that order.
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The All Blacks’ 47-17 rout of Italy in Wellington and Ireland’s 36-20 triumph over Japan both yielded no rating movement, leaving the Boks, the Irish and New Zealand occupying the top three.
Japan climbed to 11th, overtaking Wales, who dropped 0.29 points after falling to Los Pumas in Argentina. The Argentines gained the same amount, closing to within 0.03 of Scotland.
Spain were the standout movers, jumping four places to 16th after beating Tonga, nudging Uruguay, Chile, Samoa and Tonga down a spot apiece.
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World Rugby rankings (Top 15)
1. South Africa 93.96
2. New Zealand 91.04
3. Ireland 89.32
4. France 87.43 (+0.68)
5. (↑1) England 84.75 (+0.84)
6. (↓1) Scotland 84.09 (-0.02)
7. Argentina 84.06 (+0.29)
8. Australia 80.60 (-0.68)
9. Fiji 78.69 (-0.84)
10. Italy 77.31
11. (↑1) Japan 76.42
12. (↓1) Wales 76.38 (-0.29)
13. Georgia 73.30 (+0.64)
14. USA 69.40
15. Portugal 68.67 (+0.17)
Photo: @Springboks/X
The post Boks sitting pretty on rankings ladder appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks have edged further clear at the top of the World Rugby rankings after Saturday’s result against Scotland in the Nations Championship.
The post Boks sitting pretty on rankings ladder appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
