Springboks drop to sixth in world rankings

The Springboks will finish the year at No 6 in the World Rugby rankings after losing to Wales in Cardiff.

The Springboks were ranked third at the end of the 2015 World Cup and sixth at the end of 2016, Allister Coetzee’s first season in charge. They dropped to seventh – an all-time low – during this year’s Six Nations.

Their defeat at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday saw them docked 1.1 rating points, decreasing their tally from 84.90 to 83.80. That elevates Scotland to fifth.

Wales have also received an improved rating from 80.98 to 81.76, but remain seventh.

World Rugby rankings (Top 20):

1. New Zealand 93.99
2. England 90.87
3. Ireland 86.39
4. Australia 85.49
5. Scotland 84.11
6. South Africa 83.80
7. Wales 82.08
8. Argentina 78.22
9. France 78.09
10. Fiji 77.93
11. Japan 75.66
12. Georgia 73.46
13. Tonga 71.87
14. Italy 71.25
15. Romania 69.58
16. Samoa 69.03
17. USA 66.87
18. Uruguay 65.63
19. Russia 64.45
20. Spain 61.68