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World Rankings: Ireland replace Springboks at Number 1
South Africa’s unbroken 11-month reign at the top of the World Rankings is over following their dramatic 29-28 defeat to Argentina in Santiago Del Estero on Saturday.
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The Springboks had replaced Ireland as the number one team in the world back in mid-October when Andy Farrell’s side suffered an untimely quarter-final exit at Rugby World Cup 2023.
But the situation has now been reversed with the Springboks’ rating falling to 91.77 points, which puts them in second 0.35 points below Ireland, who take over at the top with their rating of 92.12 points.
In ending a nine-game losing streak against the Springboks, Los Pumas have not only kept their slim Rugby Championship title hopes alive but also climbed above Scotland and into sixth in the rankings.
Argentina will go to Mbombela next weekend for the final round of the 2024 Rugby Championship five points behind the previously unbeaten Springboks in the standings.
Los Pumas were not the only team to make progress this weekend as Fiji have climbed up to ninth at Australia’s expense on the back of winning their sixth Pacific Nations Cup title.
Fiji produced a stunning second half performance to beat tournament hosts Japan 41-17 in the final of the Asahi Super Dry sponsored competition.
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The convincing win has improved their rating to 79.64 points, which only leaves them a third of a point behind Italy in eighth.
Despite a valiant fightback against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup, Australia lost 31-28 to the All Blacks and have fallen to 10th in the rankings. The Wallabies have been in that position before, firstly during RWC 2023, but have never been outside of the top 10.
New Zealand remain in third place but with a slightly improved rating of 88.70 points.
Japan, meanwhile, have been replaced in 13th by Samoa, who battled past USA to claim third place in the Pacific Nations Cup.
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Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
As a Saffa, there are a few things that concern me,
1- Should we not have maybe gone with our fully experienced side? Considering, its away from home, in a stadium we never played in, I feel more experienced players would have handled it better. Secondly, we would have then come home chamlions and with little pressure.
Secondly- We have had experiences with Libbok and those pressure kicks, yes Polard is not perfect, but he thrives off those situations, Either Libbok should have played first half, or if he came on second half, Am should have come off and pollard move to 12.
3- Jerry Flennery is going to have sleepless nights, The missed tackles, especially when we needed to make them.
4- To me, Ox was the only player that seemed to have played with intent, everyone else just seemed to come along to do some sigh seeing.
5- How on earth did we loose our lead? Are we rellying on our bomb squad too much? Will we loose every match they have a bad day?
Its concerning, but I am sure we will bounce back, its just that it will now be a must win match for the Boks, when it really did not have to be.
Well done los Pumas, you really played with pasion
To be fair, Ireland was always #1. France is clearly #2. But I'm sure it won't stop Bok supporters from spewing utter 💩 here.
It's the only thing they really excel at. Well that and refusing to acknowledge the only reason they win is when the refs hand them undeserved victory
DC000 is a fake account run by South Africans in order to try to discredit their critics.
haha. SA are dropping down. Lost their Aura Id say. In decline. Might just need to beg NZR and RA if they can join SR. The new non SR players are all questionable in quality and dedication.