All Blacks’ rankings reign hits five years

Sport
The All Blacks are guaranteed to celebrate five years as the top dogs of world rugby this weekend.

WELLINGTON — The All Blacks are guaranteed to celebrate five years as the top dogs of world rugby this weekend.

Regardless of their result against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, New Zealand will maintain their No 1 ranking – a position established on November 16 2009. It is the longest reign by any team since the rankings were introduced 11 years ago, taking in their World Cup triumph and just five defeats from 68 Tests.

The weekly ranking list released yesterday shows that South Africa can’t catch the All Blacks this week following their shock loss to Ireland on Saturday.

Instead, the Springboks go into a tough challenge against England with third-ranked Australia having closed the gap. The Sanzar big guns monopolise the top three spots once again.

Springboks
Springboks

The Wallabies’ win over Wales shunts England back to fourth, followed by Ireland, France and Wales. Scotland are entrenched in eighth even though they beat Argentina 41-31 in Edinburgh.

Scottish coach Vern Cotter said the All Blacks would present a markedly different challenge for his side than the 10th-ranked Pumas.

“The first thing we must do is not get carried away and be brutally honest with ourselves, which I know these guys are,” New Zealander Cotter told journalists.

“The All Blacks beat England and they’re the best team in the world.”

Meanwhile, Japan have the most to celebrate from the ranking list, climbing two spots to their highest position of ninth despite not playing a Test last weekend.

World rankings: 1 New Zealand 93,70 points, 2 South Africa 89,02, 3 Australia 85,44, 4 England 85,12, 5 Ireland 84,84, 6 France 80,25, 7 Wales 79.78, 8 Scotland 78,27, 9 Japan 75,63, 10 Argentina 75,45

– ESPNscrum