New Zealand have officially dropped to their worst ever World Rugby ranking of fifth.
The official rankings table is published today, with the All Blacks slipping below England after a chastening 26-10 defeat to South Africa in the Rugby Championship that's left coach Ian Foster on the brink of being sacked.
The Springboks' dominant victory sees them draw level with France in second place in the rankings. Victory in next weekend's re-match with New Zealand will put them back in second on their own. They had started the summer as the world's best team but were knocked off the number one spot after that second Test defeat to Wales saw them lose significant rankings points. Ireland have risen from fourth to first over the past few weeks.
The All Blacks have previously only ever been as low as fourth in the rankings, before today.
Elsewhere, there is no movement in positions but Argentina's 26-41 loss to Australia means Wales now have a bit of breathing space in eighth.
| 1 | |
Ireland | 90.03 | |
| 2 | |
France | 89.41 | |
| 3 | |
South Africa | 89.41 | (+0.80) |
| 4 | (↑5) | England | 86.25 | |
| 5 | (↓4) | New Zealand | 86.13 | (-0.80) |
| 6 | |
Australia | 83.30 | (+1.13) |
| 7 | |
Scotland | 81.93 | |
| 8 | |
Wales | 81.28 | |
| 9 | |
Argentina | 79.32 | (-1.13) |
| 10 | |
Japan | 77.74 | |
| 11 | |
Samoa | 75.75 | |
| 12 | |
Fiji | 75.08 | |
| 13 | |
Georgia | 74.51 | |
| 14 | |
Italy | 73.29 | |
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