World rankings: Springboks up to second after toppling All Blacks

The Springboks were down in fourth place a few weeks ago, but back-to-back wins over the Pumas followed by their big win over the All Blacks last Friday leaves them right behind top-ranked Ireland.

France are also on the rise following New Zealand's largest-ever Test defeat, with Ian Foster's men dropping down to fourth position ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The Springboks inflicted a 35-7 loss on the All Blacks which means they are just 0.71 points behind Ireland, who maintained their place at the summit after edging past Samoa 17-13.

A draw or defeat for Andy Farrell's outfit against the Samoans in Bayonne would have seen them replaced by the Boks.

Instead, they just about held onto top spot, which means the South Africans will have to wait another couple of weeks to put that place under further pressure.

It was an altogether good weekend for the Pacific Islanders, with Seilala Mapusua's charges pushing the world number one team close and Fiji stunning England 30-22 at Twickenham.

As a result, the Flying Fijians move up to their highest position of seventh, with the Red Rose dropping to eighth - equalling their lowest-ever slot which followed the 2015 World Cup disaster.

It could have been even worse for the Englishmen had Australia defeated France, but the Wallabies succumbed 41-17 to Fabien Galthie's men.

That once again sees Eddie Jones' side heading into reverse with them slipping from eighth to ninth.

The only teams that played this weekend to keep the same slots in the top 10 are leaders Ireland and fifth-placed Scotland, who didn't earn any ranking points from their victory over Georgia.

Argentina benefited from England's defeat to Fiji by rising to sixth from seventh, despite staying on 80.86 points.

Wales remain in 10th having not played at the weekend.

1 Ireland 91.822 South Africa 91.083 France 89.224 New Zealand 89.065 Scotland 84.016 Argentina 80.867 Fiji 80.288 England 79.959 Australia 79.8710 Wales 78.26

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