Australia and Argentina both enjoyed gains in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini following two impressive wins in the third round of the Rugby Championship 2022.
The Wallabies maintained their proud home record against South Africa, winning 25-17 in Adelaide to remain second in the table to Argentina, who made history by beating the All Blacks for the first time ever on New Zealand soil.
The 25-18 win in Christchurch was Los Pumas’ second win of the campaign and puts them on nine points, level with the Wallabies but with a superior points difference of +23 compared to -9.
In gaining a losing bonus point in defeat, defending champions New Zealand actually move off the bottom of the Rugby Championship 2022 table at South Africa’s expense.
Despite their winless run in Australia against the Wallabies now running to eight tests, the Springboks still remain the highest ranked of all the teams in the Rugby Championship. The reigning world champions keep hold of third place but only 0.21 of a point now separates them from England who move up to fourth following the All Blacks’ demise.
For the second time this month, New Zealand find themselves at a record-equalling low of fifth in the rankings and Ian Foster’s team are now just one place and 2.82 points better off than the Wallabies who have climbed one place to sixth.
Argentina have climbed the rankings to the tune of two places and are now up to seventh with Scotland and Wales dropping back a place as a result, to eighth and ninth respectively.
Meanwhile, a commanding 52-13 win over Colombia saw Brazil crowned champions of the Sudamérica Rugby 3 Naciones 2022.
It followed a tense 31-28 win over Paraguay earlier in the week, and with the two wins, Os Tupis have moved above the Netherlands and into 27th place in the rankings.
