World Rankings: Boks drop to sixth
Wales' 27-13 victory over South Africa, their third win in this November series, sees them replace the Springboks in fifth place in the rankings.
It was only the third time that Wales had beaten South Africa and the victory was worth 0.78 of a rating point, taking them on to 82.55 points – just over two behind fourth-placed Ireland. The loss means the Springboks equal their lowest ever position of sixth since the rankings began in October 2003.
South Africa could still be overtaken by both Scotland and France ahead of the 2019 World Cup draw on May 10, 2017, as those two teams will be competing in the Six Nations in February and March. The Springboks cannot improve their ranking score before the draw as they only play in June again.
Ireland boosted their tally by more than a point following their 27-24 win over Australia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. They are now just over two points behind the Wallabies and have every chance of catching them, if they enjoy a successful Six Nations, before the World Cup 2019 pool draw.
New Zealand and England, the top two sides in the rankings, were not able to improve their points total as expected victories over France and Argentina came with no reward due to difference in rating points between the nations.
Scotland saved their best until last in this November series with a six-try, 43-16 win over Georgia at Rugby Park, the home of Kilmarnock Football Club.
Stuart Hogg bagged a brace as seventh-ranked Scotland earned one-tenth of a rating point, which takes them on to 80.67 points – just over one behind South Africa.
Levani Botia scored twice as Fiji beat Japan 38-25 to end their European tour with a win in the French town of Vannes, thus preventing the Asian champions taking 10th place from them in the rankings. Fiji now have a two-point buffer between themselves and the Brave Blossoms, after a 0.97 of a point gain, but are still more than three points adrift of Argentina, in ninth.
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