The Springboks have strengthened their position as the world’s No 1 side.
Following Saturday’s brutal 24-13 takedown of Ireland in Dublin, the Boks gained 0.88 points to move to 93.94, widening the gap over the second-placed All Blacks, who remain on 90.33 despite beating Wales 52-26 in Cardiff.
The fourth-placed Irish lost 0.88 ranking points.
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Third-placed England gained 0.32 points after their 27-23 win against Argentina at Twickenham, while fifth-placed France nudged up to 87.24 after their 48-33 win over the Wallabies, who lost 0.16 points but stay seventh.
The most significant movement among tier-one nations saw Scotland – who hammered Tonga 56-0 – climb to eighth, leapfrogging Fiji.
Wales (11th) and Japan (12th) both moved up once place, the latter after beating Georgia 25-23 in Tbilisi, with the Lelos dropping to 13th.
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World Rugby rankings (top 15)
1. South Africa 93.94 (+0.88)
2. New Zealand 90.33
3. England 89.41 (+0.32)
4. Ireland 87.97 (-0.88)
5. France 87.24 (+0.16)
6. Argentina 84.97 (-0.32)
7. Australia 81.53 (-0.16)
8. (↑1) Scotland 80.22
9. (↓1) Fiji 80.14 (-0.89)
10. Italy 78.98
11. (↑1) Wales 74.23
12. (↑1) Japan 74.09 (+1.51)
13. (↓2) Georgia 73.18 (-1.51)
14. Spain 70.01 (+0.89)
15. USA 68.26
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Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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