World rankings: All Blacks no longer second best team despite Rugby World Cup final appearance
All Blacks players dejected after losing the Rugby World Cup final.
The All Blacks have dropped outside the top two of the World Rugby rankings despite getting into the Rugby World Cup final.
New Zealand moved up to second in the standings following their 28-24 triumph over Ireland in their massive quarter-final clash.
That ended the Irishmen’s 15-month reign at the top of the rankings as they dropped two places to third.
Semi-final win
Ian Foster’s men backed up that victory over Ireland by thrashing Argentina in the semi-finals to maintain their place behind South Africa in the standings.
That meant first position, as well as the Webb Ellis Cup, was up for grabs in the final, but it was the Springboks who strengthened their grip at the summit.
The Boks’ narrow 12-11 success over the All Blacks improved their rating to 94.54, giving them the best part of a four-point gap over the second placed side.
That is not New Zealand, who lost 1.76 points as a result of the defeat in Paris, as they slipped behind Andy Farrell’s charges in the pecking order.
It was the only change in the top 10, but England managed to go further clear of Scotland in fifth and close the gap on France thanks to their third place finish at the World Cup.
The Red Rose edged past Argentina 26-23 to win the bronze medal and move closer to Les Bleus, who are now just 2.35 in front of them.
Los Pumas stay in seventh despite that loss to the Englishmen, but they are now only just ahead of Wales, with a miniscule 0.04 points separating the two countries.
World rankings following the 2023 Rugby World Cup
1 (1) South Africa 94.54
2 (3) Ireland 90.57
3 (2) New Zealand 89.80
4 (4) France 87.81
5 (5) England 85.46
6 (6) Scotland 83.43
7 (7) Argentina 80.68
8 (8) Wales 80.64
9 (9) Australia 77.48
10 (10) Fiji 76.38
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