England have leapfrogged Scotland back into fifth place in the World Rugby rankings after thrashing a 14-man Fiji side 73-8, reversing last weekend’s positions for the second Sunday running.
According to the latest World Rugby rankings update, South Africa remain top of the standings on 93.96 points despite gaining just 0.02 for their 42-28 win over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, with New Zealand a distant second on 91.04 after edging past Italy in Wellington. Steve Borthwick’s England earned 0.84 rating points for their rout of Fiji in Liverpool, enough to move above Gregor Townsend’s Scots, who slip from fifth to sixth on 84.09.
Rassie Erasmus Sees Off Scotland Test As Springboks Hold Firm At The Top
South Africa’s narrow points haul reflects how little reward is on offer for beating lower-ranked opposition, but head coach Rassie Erasmus’s much-changed side still did enough to keep New Zealand at arm’s length, with the gap between the two southern hemisphere heavyweights now 2.92 points. Argentina, who beat Wales 35-21, have closed to within 0.03 points of Scotland in seventh on 84.06, setting up a tight scrap for positioning before the Nations Championship’s November block.
With England and Scotland swapping places for a second straight weekend, the picture below the Springboks and All Blacks remains finely poised, and another big performance from either side could flip the standings again before the year is out.
