Australia back to second in rankings

Mike Harris: Helped Wallabies go past Boks

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The boot of Mike Harris in Australia's 25-19 victory over Argentina ensured their return to second spot in the latest IRB World Rankings.

Harris kicked 20 points at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario on Saturday to give the Wallabies second place, albeit a distant one behind champions New Zealand, in the inaugural Rugby Championship standings.

Only four tenths had separated South Africa and Australia going into the final round of matches, but the Springboks' 32-16 loss to New Zealand in Soweto had put their second spot on the line.

The difference between the two sides has now grown to 1.23 rating points, although both Australia and South Africa have seen their rating go down during the Rugby Championship.

New Zealand's four-try victory - their 16th consecutive Test win - at FNB Stadium increased their rating by just over nine tenths to now sit 7.43 points clear at the top of the IRB World Rankings.

The All Blacks have occupied top spot since 16 November 2009 and their clean sweep in the Rugby Championship has seen that cushion increase by 3.05 points.

Argentina remain eighth after their first taste of the Rugby Championship, but are now less than a point above Scotland, placing their position in the second band of seeds for the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool Allocation Draw on 3 December at stake.

The Rugby Championship was not the only tournament to impact the IRB World Rankings this weekend with the beginning of the RWC 2015 qualification process in Europe resulting in a number of positional changes.

Hungary were the biggest beneficiaries after winning the region's first qualifier, climbing four places to 81st after beating Bulgaria 28-23 in the presence of the Webb Ellis Cup in Kecskemét on Saturday.

They now sit one place above Bulgaria, who fall three places to 82nd after losing the European Nations Cup Division 2C encounter before a record crowd for a rugby match in Hungary.

IRB World Rankings
(Old position bracketed)

1(1) New Zealand 93.35
2(3) Australia 85.92
3(2) South Africa 84.69
4(4) England 83.09
5(5) France 83.03
6(6) Wales 82.26
7(7) Ireland 79.85
8(8) Argentina 78.63
9(9) Scotland 77.97
10(10) Samoa 76.23

With thanks to the IRB

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