Boks' top-five place short-lived
WORLD RANKINGS: After avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of hosts South Africa with a 25-10 win in the third and final test at Newlands, England have moved up to fourth place in the World Rugby Rankings.
Owen Farrell’s first win in charge of the team was worth one and a third points to lift them above Australia and South Africa. Another three points from the boot of Farrell, who kicked six penalties and a conversion for a 20-point haul, would have taken Eddie Jones’ men back up to third – their position at the start of June.
As a result of the defeat, South Africa slip one place to sixth with the Wallabies sandwiched between the two teams in fifth following their defeat to Ireland in Sydney. Like Farrell, Johnny Sexton contributed most of his side’s points, kicking five penalties in a 20-16 win that clinched the men in green their first series win Down Under since 1979.
Ireland picked up 0.92 of a point to further secure second place in the rankings behind an All Blacks side that gained no reward for their third straight win over France. On a day when flyhalves caught the eye, Damian McKenzie celebrated his first start at No.10 for New Zealand by converting both of his tries and five others for a 24-point haul. New Zealand won 49-14 after another strong second-half showing.
Meanwhile, Scotland made up some of the ground they lost following last week’s shock one-point loss to the USA with a convincing 44-15 win against Argentina in Resistencia. George Horne’s brace and tries from captain Stuart McInally and Blair Kinghorn, Magnus Bradbury and Dougie Fife ensured Scotland ended their June tour on a high.
The 1.19 rating points awarded to Scotland were not enough to take them any higher than their current standing of sixth though, while Los Pumas remain in 10th place.
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