Bok ranking on downward spiral
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:09
South Africa have slipped to third place in the International Rugby Board (IRB) rankings after their fourth defeat in five Tri-Nations matches on Saturday when they lost 15-27 to Australia in Durban.
This is the Springboks' lowest position since they took the No.1 slot after the World Cup.
The slide follows the Springboks' third successive loss and their second on home soil for the first time in a Tri-Nations season.
Australia, who were in an unflattering third place when the season started, have now moved into second place.
Another loss to Australia this weekend would see the Boks drop further in points in the rankings but they would still go into their November tour to the UK in third place.
A Springbok victory on Saturday will see the Springboks overtake Australia to regain the second place. England and Argentina still occupy the fourth and fifth place.
The rankings at the end of this year's international season will be used to determine the Rugby World Cup seedings for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.
IRB World Rankings:
1 New Zealand, 91.21
2 Australia, 87.75
3 South Africa, 86.51
4 Argentina, 83.36
5 England, 83.16
6 Wales, 80.12
7 France, 78.99
8 Ireland, 77.18
9 Scotland, 76.92
10 Italy, 75.57
SAPA
