World Rugby rankings: Springboks hold top spot as All Blacks narrow the gap further

Meanwhile, Australia have made gains in the standings despite not playing.

Rassie Erasmus' charges secured yet another resounding win over Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, thrashing the Azzurri 45-0. That win also saw them clinch the series 2-0.

However, the All Blacks also claimed a mammoth victory of their own on Saturday as they pummelled France 43-17 in Hamilton. That result has seen Scott Robertson's side close the gap on their biggest rivals at the top of the pile, which only whets the appetite for both their respective Tests against Georgia and France, but also the upcoming Rugby Championship.

Underneath them, Ireland remain in third on 89.83 despite their 106-7 win over Portugal.

Despite the big defeat at Sky Stadium, Les Bleus still find themselves fourth in the rankings, but they have lost valuable points just when rivals England claimed an important win in San Juan over Argentina.

That victory for Steve Borthwick's side pushes them up to 87.64 ranking points, 0.52 off Fabien Galthie's side. On the flip side, though, the home defeat for Los Pumas has seen them slip down from sixth to seventh.

Scotland also see themselves drop down the rankings following their defeat to Fiji, with Gregor Townsend's men now eighth in the rankings.

But, in a bizarre twist of fate, Australia have actually climbed the rankings despite not playing, as Joe Schmidt's side find themselves sixth heading into the first Test against the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies have only played one Test so far in 2025, beating Fiji 21-18.

Wales and Japan have also directly swapped places in the rankings following Saturday's clash in Kobe, where the visitors finally ended their losing run with 31-22 win over the Brave Blossoms. Wales now sit 12th in the rankings again, a week after hitting their lowest-ever spot of 14th, while Japan now find themselves occupying that 14th spot.

Spain have also climbed one place in the rankings to round off the top 15.

World Rugby rankings week beginning 15/07/2025

1(1) South Africa 92.78

2(2) New Zealand 91.72

3(3) Ireland 89.83

4(4) France 88.16

5(6) England 87.64

6(8)Australia 82.08

7(6) Argentina 82.05

8(7) Scotland 81.37

9(9) Fiji 80.50

10(10) Italy 77.77

11(11) Georgia 74.69

12(14) Wales 74.05

13(14) Samoa 72.68

14(12) Japan 72.29

15(15) Spain 68.91

READ MORE: Dickson to referee ABs-Boks blockbuster as Rugby Championship officials confirmed