Dublin - New Zealand's lead at the top of the IRB world rankings has stretched to more than eight points after their dramatic victory over South Africa in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.
According to the IRB website, the All Blacks are inching closer to their biggest-ever advantage at the top of the rankings, 9.51 on June 25, 2007 after they had defeated the Springboks 26-21 in Durban.
South Africa remain in second place, but now lie just over one rating point above Australia, who they face on Saturday in Pretoria. Should Australia win, they will go above South Africa into second in the rankings.
Dan Carter scored 14 points against South Africa, to become the leading all-time points scorer for a national side with 1 118, ahead of Jonny Wilkinson. Wilkinson remains number one in all international Test matches, having scored 67 points for the British & Irish Lions.
Carter also passed Andrew Mehrtens to become the leading points scorer for New Zealand against South Africa, whilst New Zealand passed the 1 500 point mark against South Africa in all Tests.
Latest Top 10 IRB rankings:
1. New Zealand 94.29
2. South Africa 86.15
3. Australia 85.11
4. France 82.75
5. Ireland 82.03
6. England 81.82
7. Scotland 79.81
8. Argentina 79.70
9. Wales 78.58
10. Fiji 74.39
According to the IRB website, the All Blacks are inching closer to their biggest-ever advantage at the top of the rankings, 9.51 on June 25, 2007 after they had defeated the Springboks 26-21 in Durban.
South Africa remain in second place, but now lie just over one rating point above Australia, who they face on Saturday in Pretoria. Should Australia win, they will go above South Africa into second in the rankings.
Dan Carter scored 14 points against South Africa, to become the leading all-time points scorer for a national side with 1 118, ahead of Jonny Wilkinson. Wilkinson remains number one in all international Test matches, having scored 67 points for the British & Irish Lions.
Carter also passed Andrew Mehrtens to become the leading points scorer for New Zealand against South Africa, whilst New Zealand passed the 1 500 point mark against South Africa in all Tests.
Latest Top 10 IRB rankings:
1. New Zealand 94.29
2. South Africa 86.15
3. Australia 85.11
4. France 82.75
5. Ireland 82.03
6. England 81.82
7. Scotland 79.81
8. Argentina 79.70
9. Wales 78.58
10. Fiji 74.39