Updated rankings after Springboks, Wallabies win
· The South African
The Springboks have jumped back to the top of the World Rugby rankings after claiming a hard-fought victory over the all Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday.
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Although the home team were ultimately outscored four tries to three, a flawless kicking performance from Cheslin Kolbe – who slotted four penalty goals to add to three conversions of tries by Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Siya Kolisi – clinched a deserved victory.
Meanwhile, in another Test match between Rugby Championship teams Australia and Argentina on Saturday, the Wallabies held off a fierce comeback to secure a 27–21 victory over Los Pumas.
That result has seen Australia leapfrog Argentina into seventh place in the rankings.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST RANKINGS AFTER THE SPRINGBOKS MOVED BACK TO TOP SPOT
RankCountryPoints1South Africa93.392New Zealand92.853Ireland88.084France87.435England85.686Scotland84.787Australia83.718Argentina82.089Fiji78.0010Wales76.3811Italy76.3012Japan75.9413Georgia73.9414USA70.2215Portugal69.3916Chile66.9417Spain66.8318Uruguay65.7519Tonga65.1420Samoa64.73REACTION FROM RASSIE ERASMUS
After the Springboks’ victory in Cape Town, Rassie Erasmus warned that the team would have to improve for the third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test.
“We 100% understand the pressure and why people are upset because no one wants to support a losing team,” said Erasmus.
“No one in South Africa wants to support anything that’s not working. A loss here and there doesn’t make you a losing team immediately, but it’s when you go on a losing run that the pressure comes on. But of course, I felt the pressure, I think the players will tell you I felt the pressure. I was nervous.
“We must make sure we’re not comfortable after this win and think we’re all good again because there were things we didn’t do well.”
The third Test takes place at the FNB Stadium at Nasrec in Johannesburg on Saturday (kick off at 17:10), live on SuperSport.