The Springboks have reclaimed the No. 1 position in the World Rugby rankings following Wales’ stunning 35-28 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
South Africa had slipped to second place after suffering a 21-19 defeat against France in Paris on Friday night. The loss cost Rassie Erasmus’ team 1.56 ranking points, allowing the All Blacks to move ahead.
However, Wales produced a remarkable performance in Cardiff, beating New Zealand for the first time since 1953 and handing the Springboks an immediate opportunity to return to the summit of international rugby.
Wales Produce Historic All Blacks Upset
New Zealand entered the encounter as favourites, with expectations that the All Blacks would secure a comfortable victory and strengthen their position in the Nations Championship southern standings.
Instead, Wales delivered one of their most memorable performances in recent history, securing a 35-28 win.
Tries from Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit inspired the Welsh side to a historic result.
The teams went into half-time level at 21-21, setting up a tense second half before Wales eventually completed the upset.
The result ended New Zealand’s long wait for a victory over the All Blacks’ Welsh opponents, with their previous defeat against Wales dating back to 1953.
Springboks Climb Back to World No. 1
The defeat had an immediate impact on the World Rugby rankings, with New Zealand losing two ranking points.
That allowed South Africa to move back into first place despite their disappointing performance against France.
The latest rankings supplied show the Springboks leading with 91.53 points, followed by New Zealand on 90.65. France occupy third position with 89.05 points, while Ireland and England complete the top five.
Back to No. 1
Updated World Rugby Rankings
| Rank | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 91.53 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 90.65 |
| 3 | France | 89.05 |
| 4 | Ireland | 88.70 |
| 5 | England | 86.99 |
| 6 | Scotland | 84.40 |
| 7 | Australia | 83.12 |
| 8 | Argentina | 82.09 |
| 9 | Wales | 79.37 |
| 10 | Fiji | 77.79 |
| 11 | Italy | 76.30 |
| 12 | Japan | 75.25 |
| 13 | Georgia | 74.23 |
| 14 | Portugal | 68.24 |
| 15 | USA | 67.80 |
The rankings reflect the figures provided in the source article.
Rassie Erasmus Refuses to Make Excuses After France Defeat
While the Springboks have regained the top ranking, their performance against France remains a concern.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus was honest in his assessment of the 21-19 defeat, acknowledging that France deserved the victory.
“France played really well and we didn’t, so I can’t find a lot of excuses. They took their opportunities when they got them and we didn’t,” Erasmus said.
He also pointed to missed opportunities, poor decision-making and the team’s failure to convert attacking pressure into points.
Erasmus explained that South Africa had enough opportunities to score more tries but failed to execute when it mattered.
He further questioned some of the decisions made during the match, including choosing not to kick for the corner at certain moments.
Ultimately, the Springboks coach accepted that France had performed better on the night.
New Zealand Still Lead the Nations Championship Southern Standings
Despite losing their position at the top of the World Rugby rankings, the All Blacks retain a one-point advantage over South Africa in the Nations Championship southern standings.
New Zealand collected two losing bonus points against Wales, helping them maintain their advantage in the competition.
For the Springboks, returning to No. 1 is an encouraging development after the disappointment in Paris. However, Erasmus and his players will know that maintaining the position requires stronger performances in their remaining international fixtures.
Wales may have delivered the biggest surprise of the weekend, but their victory has handed South Africa a major rankings boost.
