Australia have dropped to their joint-lowest position in the World Rugby Rankings as the All Blacks climbed back from their own nadir after another busy weekend of Rugby Championship action.
The Wallabies' heavy 48-17 defeat to Argentina in San Juan saw them drop down to seventh, falling below Scotland. However, despite the emphatic win, Argentina remain in ninth place - although the gap to Wales has been reduced dramatically.
As for the All Blacks, their recent struggles had seen them fall to an all-time low of fifth in the rankings last weekend after a third consecutive defeat. However, that low point only lasted a week, after claiming a 35-23 win over South Africa in Johannesburg.
Despite Ian Foster's future as coach being in doubt, New Zealand managed to flip the script on South African soil - scoring four tries against the Springboks. Even if that hasn't ended speculation over the coach's future, it did see New Zealand start to climb back up the rankings.
They have now moved above England to sit in fourth, while the gap to third-placed South Africa has been cut to just 0.02 points.
| 1 | |
Ireland | 90.03 | |
| 2 | |
France | 89.41 | |
| 3 | |
South Africa | 87.78 | (-1.63) |
| 4 | (↑5) | New Zealand | 87.76 | (+1.63) |
| 5 | (↓4) | England | 86.25 | |
| 6 | (↑7) | Scotland | 81.93 | |
| 7 | (↓6) | Australia | 81.65 | (-1.65) |
| 8 | |
Wales | 81.28 | |
| 9 | |
Argentina | 80.97 | (+1.65) |
| 10 | |
Japan | 77.74 | |
| 11 | |
Samoa | 75.75 | |
| 12 | |
Fiji | 75.08 | |
| 13 | |
Georgia | 74.51 | |
| 14 | |
Italy | 73.29 | |
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