New Zealand return to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini

A month after being dethroned by South Africa, New Zealand are back on top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini.

Saturday’s 54-16 win over Wales earned them 0.39 of a rating point which was enough to take them above the Springboks, who now trail New Zealand by 0.23 of a point.

Fittingly, Beauden Barrett produced a man-of-the-match performance on his 100th cap, scoring the first and last of his side’s seven tries.

TJ Perenara, Will Jordan, Dalton Papali'i, Sevu Reece and Anton Lienert-Brown also crossed for the All Blacks with Jordie Barrett kicking 19 points.

Under-strength Wales lost Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty to injury but put up a brave fight, scoring a try through Johnny Williams in addition to three penalties and a conversion.

Wales remain in ninth place in the rankings after their 32nd consecutive defeat to the All Blacks.

Kyle Steyn scored four tries in a 60-14 win for Scotland over Tonga at Murrayfield in the day’s other Autumn Nations Series match.

Rufus McLean scored twice early on and Pierre Schoeman also crossed on his debut.

George Turner, Nick Haining and Oli Kebble accounted for the remainder of the tries in a match that did not affect either team’s ranking.

European round-up

Elsewhere, Germany cemented their position in the Top 30 with a 46-16 away win to win away to Lithuania in their opening match of the Rugby Europe Trophy.

The bonus-point win was enough to take Germany to the top of the table, on points difference from Ukraine. Ukraine have played two matches to Germany’s one.

Germany stay in 30th place but with an improved rating of 54.02, while Lithuania drop three places to 53.

Malta won 24-10 away to the lower-ranked Slovenia in Rugby Europe Conference 1 South, but the most dramatic match of the weekend came in the division below as Bosnia & Herzegovina snatched victory in Andorra to shoot up the rankings.

In a tense affair, Bosnia & Herzegovina trailed by two points with time nearly up but full-back Mahir Bisic held his nerve to win the match in the last minute with his fifth successful kick.

The 19-18 victory sees Bosnia & Herzegovina climb five places to 82nd, while Andorra drop five to 78th.

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