South Africa and Australia have both fallen in the latest World Rankings while England and Tonga both enjoyed a profitable weekend from a World Rugby Rankings point of view.
England and Tonga both enjoyed a two-place gain after their wins over South Africa and Fiji respectively.
England avoided a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of hosts South Africa with a 25-10 win over the Springboks in the third and final test at Newlands and have moved up to fourth place in the World Rugby Rankings.
As a result of the defeat, South Africa slip one place to sixth with the Wallabies sandwiched between the two teams in fifth following their defeat to Ireland in Sydney.
Ireland picked up 0.92 of a point to further secure second place in the rankings behind an All Blacks side that gained no reward for their third straight win over France.
Current Top 15
Meanwhile, Scotland made up some of the ground they lost following last week’s shock one-point loss to the USA with a convincing 44-15 win against Argentina in Resistencia.
The 1.19 rating points awarded to Scotland were not enough to take them any higher than their current standing of sixth though, while Los Pumas remain in 10th place.
Tonga’s superb 27-19 win over Fiji in Suva combined with Georgia’s 28-0 loss to Japan has moved the Ikale Tahi up to 12th place at the Lelos’ expense. It is Tonga’s highest position since March 2016.
The USA continued their long unbeaten run against Canada with a 42-17 victory in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax.
With only a quarter of a point on offer for their seventh consecutive test win, the Eagles stay in 15th place in the rankings. Canada are also unmoved in 22nd.
Full story via worldrugby.org
