World Rankings: All Blacks back on top
SPOTLIGHT: A month after being dethroned by South Africa, New Zealand are back on top of the World Rugby’s Rankings.
Saturday’s 54-16 win over Wales earned them 0.39 of a rating point which was enough to take them above the Springboks, who now trail New Zealand by 0.23 of a point.
Fittingly, Beauden Barrett produced a man-of-the-match performance on his 100th cap, scoring the first and last of his side’s seven tries.
TJ Perenara, Will Jordan, Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece and Anton Lienert-Brown also crossed for the All Blacks with Jordie Barrett kicking 19 points.
Under-strength Wales lost Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty to injury but put up a brave fight, scoring a try through Johnny Williams in addition to three penalties and a conversion.
Wales remain in ninth place in the rankings after their 32nd consecutive defeat to the All Blacks.
Kyle Steyn scored four tries in a 60-14 win for Scotland over Tonga at Murrayfield in the day’s other Autumn Nations Series match.
Rufus McLean scored twice early on and Pierre Schoeman also crossed on his debut.
George Turner, Nick Haining and Oli Kebble accounted for the remainder of the tries in a match that did not affect either team’s ranking.
