All Blacks' IRB lead cut

Cape Town - New Zealand’s failure to equal their mark of 17 consecutive Test wins following the 18-18 draw with Australia in Brisbane on Saturday means their cushion at the top of the IRB world rankings has shrunk by nearly a rating point.

However, according to the IRB website, the All Blacks, who can still better their 23-Test unbeaten run set between 1987 and 1990, still sit 6.54 rating points above the Wallabies as both teams now turn their attentions to the traditional November internationals in Europe.

By improving their own rating by 0.45, the Wallabies have also increased their advantage over third ranked South Africa and now sit 3.34 points above France in the battle to remain in the top four spots come the RWC 2015 Pool Allocation Draw in London on December 3.

Top 20 in the latest IRB rankings:

1. New Zealand 92.91
2. Australia 86.37
3. South Africa 84.69
4. England 83.09
5. France 83.03
6. Wales 82.26
7. Ireland 79.85
8. Argentina 78.63
9. Scotland 77.97
10. Samoa 76.23
11. Italy 76.03
12. Tonga 74.79
13. Canada 72.30
14. Fiji 70.60
15. Georgia 67.95
16. Japan 67.93
17. USA 66.61
18. Romania 64.54
19. Russia 62.05
20. Spain 61.63