South Africa had further reason to smile after their victory over Australia, with that win seeing them move back up to second in the World Rankings.
The Boks surrendered second spot to Australia after their RWC 2011 quarter-final loss, but the margin of victory at Loftus secured their return.
Despite a third loss in five Rugby Championship matches, an injury-hit Australia still sit just over two rating points above England and France and will be desperate to avoid further falls with the top four teams in the rankings to be kept apart in the RWC 2015 Pool Allocation Draw on 3 December.
New Zealand swept Argentina aside in La Plata to win 54-15 and clinch the title with a round to go, but the result had no impact on their rating given the seven places and 13.09 points they sit above Los Pumas. The All Blacks' cushion at the top, though, did increase by one hundredth to 5.82 rating points as a result of South Africa's five-try victory in Pretoria, the impressive Bryan Habana touching down three times in the win.
The biggest movers of the last seven days, though, were Paraguay who climbed two places to 37th on the back of a 29-14 win over Bermuda in the latest round of RWC 2015 qualifers.
Paraguay, who will now face Brazil in another one-off match on 27 October, climb above Sweden and Kenya, while the loss sees Bermuda fall to 50th with Senegal benefiting.
IRB World Rankings
(Old position bracketed)
1(1) New Zealand 92.43
2(3) South Africa 85.61
3(2) Australia 85.21
4(4) England 83.09
5(5) France 83.03
6(6) Wales 82.26
7(7) Ireland 79.85
8(8) Argentina 79.34
9(9) Scotland 77.97
10(10) Samoa 76.23
With thanks to the IRB
Comments
scrumpoacher says...
so much aussie hate on this site-it cant all be due to trinats can it?
Posted 23:32 02nd October 2012
Waz4before says...
Based on form its not impossible for 2 NH sides to finish in the top 4. But I wouldn't write off the wallabies just yet, they're just one good coach away from being a decent side.
Posted 21:53 02nd October 2012
kiwilad says...
melkedave, as low as 7th?, can certainly see 4th or 5th.
Posted 21:49 02nd October 2012
NHSaints says...
C'mon England, a decent test series and Australia going the way they are and we could move up to third...
Posted 19:18 02nd October 2012
APV1 says...
0.06
That's all we need. In fact, 0.01 will do come December...
Posted 16:55 02nd October 2012
melkdave says...
And so it begins Australias slow decline ,A loss this weekend in Argentina,and just average aurtum test resuts./returns Could see them out of the top 4 ,and looking at 6-7th place in the IRB rankings.
Posted 16:44 02nd October 2012