World rankings: All Blacks slip off the pace but Springboks not rewarded for Wallabies thrashing
All Blacks and Argentina going head-to-head in the 2024 Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks risk falling outside the top three of the World Rugby rankings after their shock loss to Argentina on Saturday.
New Zealand were three from three under Scott Robertson after wins over England and Fiji, results which edged them towards the top sides in the world, South Africa and Ireland.
The Springboks’ 25-24 defeat to the Irishmen also narrowed the gap, giving the All Blacks hope of regaining top spot during the Rugby Championship.
However, that has taken a hit after Scott Robertson’s men were stunned 38-30 by Argentina in Wellington over the weekend.
Significant drop
That lost them a whole two ranking points as they dropped from 90.37 to 88.37, putting them almost five behind the current world champions.
Another defeat this weekend, especially if it is by more than 15 points, could see New Zealand slip further down the pecking order and behind France.
On the other hand, Los Pumas hugely benefited from their third-ever victory over the All Blacks, earning two points and going above Scotland into sixth.
They were superb in the New Zealand capital, going over four times through Lucio Cinti, Mateo Carreras, Franco Molina and Agustin Creevy for the win.
That was the only change in the rankings with the other two Rugby Championship sides, the Springboks and Wallabies, staying in first and ninth respectively.
Rassie Erasmus’ men did not earn anything from the weekend’s clash, despite sealing a convincing 33-7 triumph at the weekend and ending their Brisbane hoodoo.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ran the show as the Boks displayed a nice variety between their powerful pack and talented backs.
Australia simply had no answer to the visitors’ brilliance as they conceded five tries via Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse (twice) and Kwagga Smith.
However, it did not affect their position in the rankings due to the large gap between them and the Boks as they remained on 78.96 points.
South Africa also stay put, unable to increase their buffer on Ireland, who reside 0.99 behind Erasmus’ charges.
World Rugby rankings week beginning 12/08/2024
1(1) South Africa 93.11
2(2) Ireland 92.12
3(3) New Zealand 88.37
4(4) France 86.96
5(5) England 85.40
6(7) Argentina 83.64
7(6) Scotland 82.82
8(8) Italy 79.98
9(9) Australia 78.96
10(10) Fiji 77.44