All Blacks Back on top of world rankings

The Rugby Championship delivered another twist this weekend as New Zealand reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings. A commanding 41–24 win over Argentina in Córdoba pushed the All Blacks to 92.51 points, putting them back on top of the global game for the first time since 2021.

South Africa, who started the weekend as leaders, slipped to third after a dramatic 38–22 defeat to Australia in Johannesburg. The Springboks looked in control with a 17-point halftime lead but were overpowered in the second half, losing ground in the standings. They now sit narrowly behind Ireland, who hold second place on 89.83 points.

Ireland’s position was unchanged, but the gap between the top three is razor-thin heading into the next round of Tests, raising the stakes for every result.

Australia, still ranked sixth, earned valuable ranking points from their fightback against the Boks and showed signs they could climb further if consistency follows. France and England, meanwhile, remain steady in the fourth and fifth spots.

The reshuffle means the top six now looks like this: New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, France, England, and Australia. With the Rugby Championship still in full swing and northern hemisphere tours looming, the battle for world supremacy is far from settled.

Rankings available in app.