World Rugby Rankings: Springboks Eye No.1 Spot After All Blacks Test
The Springboks have climbed to second place in the latest World Rugby Rankings after their gritty 30-22 victory over Australia at the DHL Stadium. The result not only restored momentum in their Rugby Championship campaign but also narrowed the gap on New Zealand, who suffered a shock defeat to Argentina.
Currently, the All Blacks sit on 90.72 points, but their lead is under pressure as the Boks trail closely with 90.01 points. Ireland, who had been ranked second, slipped down to third with 89.83 points. With the margins razor-thin, the coming clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Auckland is shaping up to be season-defining.
Updated World Rugby Rankings
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 90.72 |
| 2 | South Africa | 90.01 |
| 3 | Ireland | 89.83 |
| 4 | France | 87.82 |
| 5 | England | 87.64 |
| 6 | Australia | 84.85 |
| 7 | Argentina | 83.40 |
| 8 | Scotland | 81.57 |
| 9 | Fiji | 80.50 |
| 10 | Italy | 77.77 |
| 11 | Georgia | 74.69 |
| 12 | Wales | 74.05 |
| 13 | Japan | 72.29 |
| 14 | Samoa | 71.08 |
| 15 | Spain | 69.12 |
| 16 | Uruguay | 67.52 |
| 17 | Tonga | 66.87 |
| 18 | USA | 66.68 |
| 19 | Portugal | 66.44 |
| 20 | Chile | 63.83 |
Also read: Rugby Championship 2025 Guide: Springbok Selections and Key Fixtures
All Blacks Stunned by Los Pumas
New Zealand’s unexpected 29-23 loss to Argentina has sent ripples through the rugby world. Los Pumas produced a spirited performance to claim a famous victory on home soil, cutting New Zealand’s once comfortable advantage at the top. The defeat has given the Springboks an opening, with Rassie Erasmus’ men now within striking distance of the top spot.
For the first time in months, the rankings are balanced on a knife-edge, with less than a point separating first and second place. This adds further spice to next weekend’s clash at Eden Park, where the Boks have never beaten the All Blacks.
Shifts in the Top 20
Beyond the top three, the weekend’s results brought a reshuffle across the top 20. France and England retained fourth and fifth positions respectively, while Australia remained sixth despite their loss in Cape Town. Argentina’s famous win consolidated seventh spot.
Elsewhere, Japan moved up to 13th, overtaking Samoa, which slipped to 14th. Uruguay rose from 17th to 16th, while Tonga climbed to 17th after leapfrogging both the USA and Portugal. The Americans fell two places to 18th, with Portugal dropping to 19th.
Erasmus Focused on Acclimatisation
The Springboks arrived in Auckland earlier this week with a 36-man squad and their coaching team, determined to settle quickly into the new environment. With New Zealand 10 hours ahead of South Africa, time zone adjustment has been high on the agenda.
“We travelled well, and although it’s a long trip to New Zealand, we are excited to be here and looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said head coach Rassie Erasmus. “It’s always tough playing here, but the group is in good spirits, and we are fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.”
Erasmus stressed the importance of acclimatising swiftly: “The time zone and conditions are obviously very different from back home, so it’s important that we settle in quickly to ensure we are sharp at training and ready to be at our best by the time we face the All Blacks.”
Managing Workloads Carefully
The Boks endured two physically demanding encounters against Australia, losing 38-22 in Johannesburg before bouncing back with a 30-22 win in Cape Town. Erasmus revealed that player management will be crucial ahead of the double-header against New Zealand.
“We’ve worked out our training schedule this week in a way that would allow the players to recover, while at the same time steadily get into the swing of things for the next two matches,” he explained. “We will have only two training sessions this week and then go full throttle into normal Test match mode from Monday.”
Also read: Rassie: Boks Fired Up to Make It Five in a Row Against All Blacks
High Stakes in Auckland and Wellington
The first showdown against the All Blacks takes place next Saturday at Eden Park, followed by a second Test at Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September. Both matches kick off at 9.05am South African time.
After their tour of New Zealand, the Springboks will return home to face Argentina in Durban on 27 September before concluding their Rugby Championship campaign against the Pumas in London on 4 October.
Boks Eye Top Spot
With the rankings now tighter than ever, the upcoming clashes with New Zealand could decide who claims the world number one position. Victory in Auckland would not only break a long-standing hoodoo for the Springboks but also propel them within reach of the coveted top spot.
Related article: Springboks Ready to Fire: Full-Strength Squad Set to Clash with All Blacks
