Ireland could have finished the day as world number one, had they not conceded a late try in Dunedin.
The latest round of Test matches, this weekend, has seen a big shift in the top 10 of the rugby world rankings, and a new No.1.
After a weekend that saw the northern hemisphere nations bounce back, the big climbers are Wales, England, Ireland and France. Indeed, Les Bleus will top the World Rugby rankings – when they are released on Monday – for the first time since the rankings were introduced, in 1993.
Fabien Galthie’s side made a minimal gain by beating Japan over the last two weekends, but the big switch in the rankings comes after South Africa lost 13-12 to Wales. That first ever Welsh Test win on South African soil sees the reigning World Cup winners lose two ranking points and drop to third.
Ireland are up to second in the world after their first ever win over the All Blacks in New Zealand. Andy Farrell’s side won 23-12 in Dunedin and picked up 1.55 ranking points, lifting them up to just shy of 89 points. New Zealand have dropped from second to fourth.
Although it will not matter a jot to Ireland, given they are chasing a historic Test Series win over the All Blacks, they would have climbed to No.1 in the rankings had they not conceded a 78th minute try to Will Jordan.
South Africa captain Handre Pollard pictured in action against Wales. (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)Wales beat the world champions
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber did take a risk by changing 14 players from the XV that beat Wales with a last-minute penalty, last weekend.
They were 12-3 clear but Wales staged a comeback that was topped off with a Josh Adams try that Gareth Anscombe converted, with just over a minute to play. Wales are up to eighth. Scotland jumped to seventh after beating Argentina 29-6.
Elsewhere, England leapfrogged Australia, from sixth to fifth, after they beat Dave Rennie’s men 25-17 in Brisbane. Samoa beat Tonga in the Pacific Nations and are up to 12th in the world.
World Rugby will officially confirm the full, updated rankings on Monday afternoon. In the final game of the big weekend match-ups, USA are playing Chile in a World Cup qualification encounter on Saturday night.
