The Springboks remain in fifth place on the World Rugby rankings following their 29-26 win over France in Paris on Saturday.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi scored a last-gasp try, which Handré Pollard converted, to secure a three-point win for South Africa. The result earned the Boks a 0.91 rating point increase from 83.03 to 83.94.
That boost, coupled with England’s 0.62 points deduction following their 16-15 defeat to the All Blacks, means South Africa are now just 1.6 behind Eddie Jones’ team.
New Zealand stretched their lead at the top of the list to 3.46 after gaining 0.62 of a point for their win at Twickenham.
In the bottom half of the top 10, Australia were docked 0.35 after slumping to a 9-6 loss to Wales in Cardiff. The deduction has seen the Wallabies drop back to seventh, with Scotland elevated to sixth.
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World Rugby rankings:
1. New Zealand 93.58
2. Ireland 90.12
3. Wales 86.70
4. England 85.54
5. South Africa 83.94
6. Scotland 82.75
7. Australia 82.51
8. France 78.20
9. Argentina 78.01
10. Fiji 76.40
Full rankings
How the rankings work
Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP Photo
