Springboks hold on to fourth place in latest World Rugby rankings

The South Africans started the week well clear of fifth-placed Scotland and last weekend's defeat still leaves them nearly six points clear of Gregor Townsend's men.

As for New Zealand, they were on course to replace France in second place in the rankings and cut the gap on Ireland to just 1.19 points when they were holding a 35-15 lead over the Boks in the Test's dying moments.

However, a late try from Springbok flanker Kwagga Smith denied the All Blacks the 16-point margin they needed, meaning they stayed in third place.

The victory did increase the All Blacks' lead over the Boks, however. They now stand on 90.32 points, just under two points clear of the South Africans and only 0.15 points adrift of Les Bleus.

Further down, Argentina and Australia have swapped positions following Los Pumas' thrilling last-gasp Rugby Championship victory in Sydney.

Juan Martin Gonzalez's match-winning try, in the game's dying moments, sealed a 34-31 triumph for Los Pumas and the result means the South Americans are now the higher-ranked of the two sides.

Argentina's win means they move up to seventh spot in the rankings and Australia drop to eighth.

Argentina's win is their first one against the Wallabies on Australian soil in six matches and the South Americans now have an improved rating of 81.49 points, while Australia's rating has been reduced to 80.32 points.

Latest World Rugby rankings

1 Ireland 91.822 France 90.473 New Zealand 90.324 South Africa 88.345 Scotland 82.776 England 82.127 Argentina 81.498 Australia 80.329 Wales 78.0810 Japan 77.3911 Georgia 76.2312 Samoa 76.0313 Fiji 74.8414 Italy 74.6315 Tonga 71.2116 Portugal 67.6217 Uruguay 66.2418 USA 65.9219 Romania 65.8520 Spain 64.05