The All Blacks’ dominance was on full display as they secured a stunning 38-7 victory over their arch-rivals, the Wallabies, in Melbourne. This triumph not only brought them bragging rights but also propelled them to second place in the latest World Rugby Men’s Rankings.
Previously sitting behind France, New Zealand’s emphatic win allowed them to leapfrog the French team and narrow the gap between themselves and the top-ranked team, Ireland. The All Blacks’ victory erased the narrow margin separating them from France, securing their second-place position in the rankings.
While Australia had the opportunity to climb as many as three places to fifth if they managed to defeat the All Blacks, they fell short of their ambition and were unable to improve their position. The Wallabies’ defeat meant they missed out on a chance to make significant strides in the rankings.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s fourth-place standing has limited their ability to improve their rating or position solely through victory over Argentina. On the other hand, Argentina’s ranking position was heavily dependent on Australia’s performance. A defeat for Los Pumas combined with a win for Australia would have resulted in a fall to eighth for Argentina. However, a victory over the Springboks by a significant margin could send Argentina up to fifth, their highest position since June 2016.
In a separate match, Scotland faced the risk of dropping to eighth if they were beaten by Italy, with other results going against them. Italy, on the other hand, had the chance to reclaim a spot in the top 10 for the first time in over a decade if they managed to beat Scotland by a margin of over 15 points.
Fiji’s impressive victory over Samoa saw them become the higher-ranked nation, and they have the potential to break into the top 10 depending on other results. Similarly, Japan has the opportunity to narrow the gap on Georgia, who currently holds the 11th place, if they can defeat Tonga in their upcoming match.
These latest results have added further excitement and unpredictability to the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, showcasing the intense competition and the potential for rankings to drastically change based on each team’s performance. Fans can eagerly anticipate how these rankings will evolve in the coming matches.
