World Rankings: All Blacks within touching distance of Boks

SPOTLIGHT: Before this year’s Rugby Championship kicked off it was widely predicted to be the most open yet and after two rounds that appears to be the case.

Each of the four teams has won one game apiece with Los Pumas in first place on five points but only ahead of Australia on points difference.

The All Blacks are still bottom of the Rugby Championship table, on four points, despite opening their account with a brilliant 35-23 win over South Africa in Johannesburg.

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But they have moved up World Rugby's rankings with the 1.63 points they gained enough for them to reclaim fourth place from England.

Ian Foster’s side are now just two-hundredths of a point behind world champions South Africa, who had beaten them 26-10 in the opening encounter a week ago.

Meanwhile, a record 17-48 defeat to Argentina has seen Australia drop to seventh place in the rankings

It equals their lowest-ever position, last held between September and November 2018 following another Rugby Championship loss to Argentina.

The result in San Juan led to the Wallabies losing 1.65 rating points and their new total of 81.65 drops them below Scotland, who climb to sixth.

Argentina gained as many points as Australia lost under the points exchange system adopted by the rankings but their new total of 80.97 points is still not enough for them to improve on ninth place.

Los Pumas are now on 80.97 points, leaving them just 0.31 of a point behind Wales in eighth, after a ruthless display that brought them seven tries.

The Rugby Championship resumes in a fortnight’s time as Australia host South Africa in Adelaide and New Zealand entertain Argentina in Christchurch, with both matches taking place on August 27.