15 November 2026
New Zealand spent roughly 16 hours at the top of the World Rugby rankings before a 35–28 defeat to Wales in Cardiff handed the number one spot back to South Africa. The result prevented a damaging weekend for the Springboks, keeping their inaugural Nations Championship final hopes intact just hours after their own loss in Paris.
South Africa’s weekend started poorly on Friday night when they suffered a 21–19 defeat against France at the Stade de France. That loss cost Rassie Erasmus’s side 1.56 ranking points, dropping them from 93.09 to 91.53 and leaving them vulnerable in both the world rankings and the Southern Hemisphere pool standings.
Because Wales entered the match ranked 10th, the defeat cost New Zealand the maximum 2.00 ranking points, dropping them to 90.65 and returning South Africa to the top spot.
World Rugby Rankings After Round 5
1 South Africa 91.53
2 New Zealand 90.65
3 France (↑1) 89.05
4 Ireland (↓1) 88.70
5 England 86.99
9 Wales (↑1) 79.37
10 Fiji (↓1) 77.79
In the Nations Championship, the top finisher from the Southern Hemisphere pool qualifies to play the top Northern Hemisphere team in the final at Twickenham. Had New Zealand secured a routine win in Cardiff, they would have pulled clear on the log and left South Africa needing other results to go their way.
Instead, the All Blacks took only two losing bonus points, one for scoring four tries and another for finishing within seven points. New Zealand now sit on 22 log points, holding a narrow one-point lead over South Africa on 21.
South Africa face Ireland in Dublin next Saturday, while New Zealand play England. Because the Springboks hold a +138 points difference compared to New Zealand’s +66, South Africa will advance if the two sides finish level on log points.
• If New Zealand lose or draw against England: A victory for South Africa in Dublin will send the Springboks to the Twickenham final.
• If New Zealand win without a try bonus point: A bonus-point win over Ireland will move South Africa level on 26 log points, putting them through on points difference.