All Blacks Dethrone Springboks to Claim No. 1 World Rugby Ranking
- According to official World Rugby records, New Zealand overtook the Springboks as the world’s top-ranked rugby team following a 33-16 victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August...
- The opening match of the Greatest Rivalry series saw Dave Rennie’s New Zealand side dominate the proceedings in Johannesburg.
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus offered a candid appraisal of his side's performance after the match, acknowledging that his team was thoroughly beaten across most facets of the game.
According to official World Rugby records, New Zealand overtook the Springboks as the world’s top-ranked rugby team following a 33-16 victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 22, 2026. The win ended South Africa’s 21-month reign at the summit of international rugby, a position they had held since November 2024.
All Blacks Secure Top Spot at Ellis Park
The opening match of the Greatest Rivalry series saw Dave Rennie’s New Zealand side dominate the proceedings in Johannesburg. The All Blacks crossed for five tries in the first half alone to establish a commanding advantage over the hosts. By the final whistle, the victory pushed New Zealand’s rating to 94.03 points. Meanwhile, the beaten Springboks slipped to second place in the official World Rugby standings with 92.21 points, ceding the number-one ranking they defended successfully for 21 months.
Erasmus Assesses the Defeat and Series Challenge
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus offered a candid appraisal of his side’s performance after the match, acknowledging that his team was thoroughly beaten across most facets of the game. Erasmus noted that his squad struggled to convert scrum dominance into scoreboard pressure while handling uncharacteristic errors.
“We were thoroughly beaten by a team that is now number one in the world – it’ll be nice to go into the next game as the underdogs,”
Rassie Erasmus Despite the setback, Erasmus dismissed suggestions that the loss represented a catastrophic crisis for the national setup, pointing to similar opening defeats in past campaigns that ultimately preceded successful turnarounds.
Upcoming Fixtures on the Greatest Rivalry Tour
The touring schedule moves forward quickly as the All Blacks prepare to face a franchise team in Johannesburg. That midweek fixture precedes the second Test of the series, which is scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Saturday. Erasmus emphasized that securing the series trophy now requires three consecutive victories. For the Springboks, the immediate task involves regrouping in Cape Town to level the scoreline against the newly crowned world number-one side.
