Wales dodged a drop into pot three, snatching victory over Japan with the last-gasp kick from Jarrod Evans, climbing to 12th in the world rankings.

The Dragons showed grit and nerve under pressure, proving they can punch above their weight on the big stage.

The Springboks flexed their dominance, grinding out a 32-14 win over Italy in Turin on Saturday.

Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

England stunned the All Blacks at Twickenham, sealing a hard-earned 33-19 victory—only their ninth over New Zealand in 120 years of Tests.

South Africa has now carved out a clear gap at the top. While they didn’t gain points from the win, the All Blacks slipped 1.03, leaving a 2.73-point cushion between the southern hemisphere heavyweights.

England’s triumph added 1.03 points, pushing them into third and bumping Ireland down to fourth.

A win for Ireland against Australia could change the draw yet again…

UPDATED WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS AFTER BOKS WIN, NZ LOSE

RankCountryPoints1South Africa93.062New Zealand90.33 (-1.03)3England (↑1)89.09 (+1.03)4Ireland (↓1)88.855France86.956Argentina84.307Australia81.698Scotland81.219Fiji81.1510Italy78.98

Here’s how the 2027 Rugby World Cup pools are currently expected to shape up:

2027 Rugby World Cup draw

Pool A – “The Powerhouse Pool”

South Africa (Band 1) — Reigning World Champions, famed for their physical dominance and tactical brilliance.

Australia (Band 2) — Rugby hosts with a rich history and a passionate home crowd.

Japan (Band 3) — High-paced attackers who stunned the world in 2019.

Portugal (Band 4) — Rising force in European rugby, known for their scrappy determination.

📌 Storyline: South Africa vs Australia could be a World Cup final preview — Portugal and Japan will battle for third place.

Pool B – “The Six Nations Clash”

New Zealand (Band 1) — The All Blacks, rugby royalty with speed, skill, and killer instinct.

Scotland (Band 2) — Brave and battle-hardened, with a history of giant-killing performances.

Spain (Band 3) — Emerging side bringing flair and unpredictability.

Romania (Band 4) — Rugby stalwarts with physical forward packs.

📌 Storyline: New Zealand and Scotland renew their rivalry in a high-stakes pool. Spain could cause an upset.

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO

Like this:

Like Loading…