Latest World Rankings: Springboks on top for the first time in almost a decade

November 04, 2019
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Ultimate Rugby

Rugby World Cup 2019 champions South Africa move to the top of the World Rugby Rankings for the first time in nearly 10 years.

As South Africa's triumphant players prepare to arrive back home to a heroes' welcome, they do so in the knowledge that they are not only world champions but also top of the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since 16 November 2009.

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South Africa top the Rankings for the first time since 2009 while England’s loss in the final drops them down to third overall ↕️

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Their 32-12 victory over England in the Rugby World Cup Final earned them 3.48 rating points putting them ahead of New Zealand, who had temporarily moved to the number one spot following their emphatic 40-17 win over Wales in Friday's third-place decider.

The Springboks' third Rugby World Cup victory has boosted their score to 94.19 points – 6.85 points more than when their campaign began with the side back in fourth place in the rankings, while New Zealand finished the tournament as they were at the start, in second place, but with an improved score of 92.11 points.

🇳🇿 David Kirk - 1987 🏆

🇦🇺 Nick Farr-Jones - 1991 🏆

🇿🇦 Francois Pienaar - 1995 🏆

🇦🇺 John Eales - 1999 🏆

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Martin Johnson - 2003 🏆

🇿🇦 John Smit - 2007 🏆

🇳🇿 Richie McCaw - 2011 & 2015 🏆

🇿🇦 Siya Kolisi - #RWC2019

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— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) November 2, 2019

After the best part of two months in Japan, England are also unchanged in third place, despite having briefly climbed to the top of the rankings following their epic semi-final win over the All Blacks, while Wales end the tournament one place higher in fourth.

Via: World Rugby