Cape Town - After their 14-10 win over South Africa in Wellington at the weekend, New Zealand marginally improved their position at the top of the IRB World Rankings by 0.19 of a rating point to 93.75.
Richie McCaw’s 24th Test try proved the difference between the two leading sides in the Rugby Championship, who are now separated by 5.51 rankings points.
The All Blacks could have been supplanted by the Springboks as the world’s No 1-ranked team had the Springboks beaten them by more than 15 points.
But McCaw’s try and two penalties from the boot of Aaron Cruden and one from Beauden Barrett saw the All Blacks’ 58-month tenure at the top remain safe.
Top 10 IRB rankings - via the official IRB website (previous week's ranking in brackets):
1 (1) New Zealand 93.75
2 (2) South Africa 88.24
3 (3) Australia 88.10
4 (4) England 85.68
5 (5) Ireland 83.44
6 (6) Wales 80.70
7 (7) France 80.01
8 (8) Scotland 77.78
9 (9) Samoa 76.59
10 (10) Japan 75.39
Richie McCaw’s 24th Test try proved the difference between the two leading sides in the Rugby Championship, who are now separated by 5.51 rankings points.
The All Blacks could have been supplanted by the Springboks as the world’s No 1-ranked team had the Springboks beaten them by more than 15 points.
But McCaw’s try and two penalties from the boot of Aaron Cruden and one from Beauden Barrett saw the All Blacks’ 58-month tenure at the top remain safe.
Top 10 IRB rankings - via the official IRB website (previous week's ranking in brackets):
1 (1) New Zealand 93.75
2 (2) South Africa 88.24
3 (3) Australia 88.10
4 (4) England 85.68
5 (5) Ireland 83.44
6 (6) Wales 80.70
7 (7) France 80.01
8 (8) Scotland 77.78
9 (9) Samoa 76.59
10 (10) Japan 75.39