Official: All Blacks drop to a new all-time low in World Rankings

New Zealand's 26-10 loss to South Africa in the opening round of the Rugby Championship has cost them a place in the World Rugby Men’s rankings and they now find themselves at an all-time low of fifth.

Their series-deciding defeat to Ireland in July saw the All Blacks drop to fourth in the World rankings, a then all-time low, but they have now dropped to a new low.

The loss in Nelspruit follows back-to-back defeats to Ireland and means that New Zealand have now lost three tests in a row for the first time since 1998.

South Africa's victory means that they draw level with France on 89.40 points but stay in third as their score is fractionally inferior to Les Bleus’ when rounded up to three decimal places.

In the other Rugby Championship match, Australia closed in on the All Blacks with a 41-26 bonus point win in Argentina. There is now just one place between New Zealand and Australia and the gap between the two sides is down to fewer than three points with the All Blacks having started the weekend at 4.76 points better off.

Los Pumas are also unmoved, in ninth, but the loss of 1.12 points leaves them with a sub-80 point score overall.

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