England close rankings gap on Boks

Cape Town - England’s win over Wales at Twickenham on Sunday has slightly narrowed the gap between them and South Africa in the latest World Rugby rankings.

England remain in fourth position behind the Springboks, but Eddie Jones’ side gained 0.61 of a rating point as a result of their second home win over Wales in less than three months, boosting their overall tally to 84.60 points.

Wales’ 27-13 defeat has seen them drop one place to sixth in the World Rugby rankings.

Even with George Ford enduring an off day with the boot - he missed all but one of his seven attempts at goal - England were far more comfortable winners than when they limped over the line to defeat Wales 25-21 en route to a Six Nations Grand Slam.

Wales’ defeat results in them losing fifth place in the rankings to Argentina. They are now on 82.49 points, one tenth less than Los Pumas.

Elsewhere in Europe, Finland consigned Bulgaria to last place in the European Nations Cup Division 2D after a 24-13 victory in Saturday’s bottom-of-the-table clash in Helsinki.

They also fell just short of overtaking Bulgaria in the rankings after moving up three places to 97th. Bulgaria are 0.64 of a point better off in 96th.

World Rugby rankings:

1. New Zealand - 96.10

2. Australia - 89.33

3. South Africa - 87.66

4. England - 84.60

5. Argentina - 82.59

6. Wales - 82.49

7. Ireland - 80.33

8. France - 78.36

9. Scotland - 78.32

10. Japan - 77.05

11. Fiji - 76.96    

12. Georgia - 72.62    

13. Tonga - 71.60

14. Italy - 70.78 

15. Samoa - 70.36      

16. Romania - 67.52  

17. USA - 65.68   

18. Canada - 64.27    

19. Russia - 63.56

20. Uruguay - 63.23