Ireland has reclaimed the top spot in the World Rugby rankings after South Africa’s dramatic 29-28 defeat to Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
This loss cost the Springboks 1.81 ranking points, allowing Ireland to pull ahead by 0.35 points. South Africa had been at the top for the past 11 months, regaining the lead after Ireland’s exit in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France last year.
The two sides split their recent two-Test series in July, highlighting the competitive nature of international rugby.
In addition to Ireland and South Africa, Fiji’s impressive performance in the Pacific Nations Cup has propelled them to ninth place, overtaking Australia after their victory against Japan.
This shift in rankings underscores the increasing competitiveness among the top rugby nations as they prepare for future tournaments, including the upcoming World Cup.
