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All Blacks officially fall to lowest ever ranking care of Willie Le Roux
By Ian Cameron
The struggling All Blacks have fallen to their lowest-ever position in the World Rugby rankings - and it's all thanks to Willie Le Roux.
Their 26-10 loss at the hands of the Springboks in Nelspruit means that they have fallen to fifth and have been leapfrogged by Eddie Jones' England, who jump to fourth. Le Roux's late try meant that South Africa finished the game more than 15 points ahead of Ian Foster's side.
If it wasn't for Le Roux they would have kept their spot.
The Springboks' position remains unchanged in third. They are actually at the same amount of points as France at 89.41 but Les Bleus rating is higher when rounding up to three decimal places, according to World Rugby.
Ireland are sitting pretty at No.1, their longest-ever time in the top spot, having previously spent two weeks there in 2019.
Dave Rennie's Wallabies win over Michael Cheika's Argentina in Mendoza means there's no change further down the table.
The margin of victory for the Springboks was their biggest over the All Blacks since 1928 and up there with New Zealand's heaviest defeats.
It all adds even more pressure on the Foster regime, which could all come to an end next weekend.
The All Blacks must play a second Test against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg — the Boks' favorite ground — and Foster's job is hanging by a thread, as is the future of flanker Sam Cane as the leader of the team.
Rugby's most successful team was already in the midst of its worst run in 24 years after last month's shock against Ireland and is dangerously close to its worst set of results ever.
Another loss against the world champions next Saturday would see Foster fired, New Zealand media has reported, throwing the All Blacks into some turmoil just over a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France.
additional reporting AAP
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Latest Comments
Which people exactly?
Go to commentsWas anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.
Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).
This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.
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