Springboks narrow the gap slightly on the All Blacks in terms of IRB World rankings

The Springboks’ victory over Wales on Saturday has slightly narrowed the gap between them and the All Blacks at the top of the IRB world rankings.

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Although the Boks are now closer to New Zealand, the world champions will celebrate four years on top of the rankings this week, whilst Wales have now gone 17 Tests without beating either the Springboks, Wallabies or All Blacks.

Ireland went into their match with Samoa as the lower ranked of the two teams, but the 40-9 victory on Saturday means the Irish climb two places to sixth.

The margin of victory was enough to not only lift Ireland above Samoa but also Wales, albeit only by five hundredths of a rating point.

France’s 26-19 defeat by New Zealand has not proven too costly for Les Bleus, who maintain their spot but with a lower rating point total. The All Blacks are again unchallenged at top spot with a slightly improved rating.

Australia remain fourth after the 50-20 win over Italy but improve their total by half a point thanks to the try-fest in Turin.

England and Argentina began the weekend third and 10th respectively in the world and are unchanged despite the home side’s 31-12 victory at Twickenham.

Scotland stay ninth after their 42-17 win over Japan, but with an improved points rating, and the vanquished Brave Blossoms rise one place to 14th as a result of Canada’s 19-15 loss to Georgia in Tbilisi.

Portugal hosted Fiji in Lisbon but endured a try count of six to one as the visitors ran up a 36-13 result to climb one place to 12th with the Portuguese remaining 22nd.

Tonga fall two places to 13th after a last minute penalty by Florin Vlaicu secured a 19-18 win for the 17th ranked Romanians in Bucharest, a result which benefits Italy who, despite the loss to the Wallabies, rise a place to 11th

The wins over higher ranked opponents did not result in positional gains for Georgia or Romania, but they improved their ratings by 1.2 and 1,56 points respectively. Canada, though, fall one place to 15th.

Their fellow North Americans were in action with the USA losing 29-19 to the Maori All Blacks, but only matches between the national teams of two IRB Full Member Unions count towards the rankings.

Namibia stay 23rd after their 35-26 win over Zimbabwe in the opening match of the Tri Nations Series in Windhoek – a tournament which also features Kenya – while the losing side do rise one place to 32nd as a result of Poland’s heavy loss to Germany in the European Nations Cup.

Two other African sides in action – albeit on neutral soil in France – were the Ivory Coast and Senegal. The Ivory Coast were ranked six places higher going into the match in 42nd, but the 33-10 defeat means they have drop six places to 48th with Senegal rising seven places to 41st.

Chile also fall one place to 27th after suffering a 26-3 defeat against Spain in Santiago, a result which helps the Spanish consolidate their place in the world’s top 20.

IRB world rankings:

1. New Zealand (93.2)
2. South Africa (88.51)
3. England (86.31)
4. Australia (84.22)
5. France (81.44)
6. Ireland (80.76)
7. Wales (80.71)
8. Samoa (79.24)
9. Scotland (77.25)
10. Argentina (75.5)
11. Italy (73.65)
12. Fiji (73.56)
13. Tonga (73.21)
14. Japan (71.68)
15. Canada (71.47)
16. Georgia (68.86)
17. Romania (67.74)
18. USA (64.91)
19. Russia (61.99)
20. Spain (61.85)