All Blacks World Rugby

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All Blacks slip to THIRD in latest World Rugby rankings!

Six Nations champions France have moved ahead of New Zealand into the No 2 position on the latest updated official World Rugby rankings.

All Blacks World Rugby

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Six Nations champions France have moved ahead of New Zealand into the No 2 position on the latest updated official World Rugby rankings.

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This followed their 25-13 victory over England last Saturday which also saw them not only win this year’s Six Nations title, but also secure a Grand Slam for the first time since 2010.

Les Bleus now have 88.88 rating points compared to the All Blacks’ 88.75.

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The French are also set for their longest run at No 2 having last occupied the position for one week only back in October 2007.

This is because no more Tests will be played until mid-year.

France have never been at No 1, but are only 1.72 rating points behind the world champion Springboks.

Elsewhere, Six Nations runners-up Ireland remained fourth in the rankings, 0.53 points below the All Blacks, following their 26-5 home win against Scotland.

The gap in the rankings between Ireland and fifth-placed England is now 3.72 points, while Scotland stay seventh.

Australia are in sixth place.

Having lost to Italy on home soil for the first time in history, Wales have dropped below Argentina into ninth place.

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Italy’s historic 22-21 win in Cardiff ended a 36-game losing run in the Six Nations, but incredibly did not improve their position in the rankings, with the Azzurri staying in 14th place.

Georgia, who beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Spain 49-15 in the Rugby Europe Championship decider, moved above Samoa into 12th place.

Top 20 in the latest World Rugby rankings:

1. South Africa 90.61

2. France 88.88

3. New Zealand 88.75

4. Ireland 88.22

5. England 84.50

6. Australia 83.92

7. Scotland 81.80

8. Argentina 80.58

9. Wales 79.28

10. Japan 78.26

11. Fiji 76.62

12. Georgia 73.78

13. Samoa 73.59

14. Italy 72.33

15. Spain 68.26

16. Tonga 67.72

17. Romania 66.95

18. USA 66.54

19. Uruguay 66.40

20. Portugal 65.72

Others:

24. Namibia 59.72

34. Zimbabwe 51.82