Rugby World Cup 2019 champions South Africa move to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for the first time in nearly 10 years
Rugby World Cup 2019 champions South Africa move to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for the first time in nearly 10 years.
As South Africa’s triumphant players prepare to arrive back home to a heroes’ welcome, they do so in the knowledge that they are not only world champions but also top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for the first time since November 16, 2009.
Saturday’s 32-12 victory over England in the final of Rugby World Cup 2019 saw them awarded 3.48 rating points to go from third to first, having briefly been overtaken by New Zealand after their 40-17 defeat of Wales in the bronze final.
The Springboks’ third Rugby World Cup victory has boosted their score to 94.19 points – their highest ever and 6.85 points more than when their campaign began with the side back in fourth place in the rankings, while New Zealand finished the tournament as they were at the start, in second place, but with an improved rating of 92.11 points.
World Rugby Rankings (1-10):
1 South Africa 94.19
2 New Zealand 92.11
3 England 88.82
4 Wales 85.02
5 Ireland 84.45
6 Australia 81.90
7 France80.88
8 Japan 79.28
9 Scotland 79.23
10 Argentina78.31
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