Updated rankings after Springboks, All Blacks win
With the Springboks unable to improve their points tally due to the lowly position of Italy, it's the second-placed All Blacks who continue to eat into South Africa's rankings lead with victory against fourth-placed France, who have brought a weakened squad to New Zealand.
On Saturday, the All Blacks improved their tally by 0.74 points after securing a resounding 43-17 win against Les Bleus, and there is now just 1.06 points separating South Africa and New Zealand at the top of the rankings.
The All Blacks will be favourites to pick up one more win over France in the third and final Test between the teams, and so there is every chance that there could be very little separating the Springboks and New Zealand in the rankings by the time the Rugby Championship begins.
Meanwhile, in other shake ups to the rankings, Scotland's shock 29-14 loss to Fiji will see them fall down to eighth, while Argentina slip to seventh after losing to England again. The Wallabies, in turn, jump to sixth without kicking a ball.
1 South Africa 92.78 2 New Zealand 91.72 3 Ireland 89.83 4 France 88.16 5 England 87.64 6 Australia 82.08 7 Argentina 82.05 8 Scotland 81.37 9 Fiji 80.50 10 Italy 77.77
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TimesLIVE
38 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Rassie surprises with new bag of tricks for Boks
Daring Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus lifted the lid on his Pandora's box of new tricks when the world champions conjured up a runaway 45-0 win over Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday. Known for his out-of-the-box innovations, Erasmus added new ploys to his evolving playbook against a bamboozled Azzurri outfit in the second Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Boks surprised Italy in the opening seconds when they orchestrated a cheeky scrum penalty from a contrived kickoff, which they hoped would allow them to exert early dominance in the set pieces. Instead of kicking the ball a mandatory 10 metres, Bok flyhalf Manie Libbok chipped the ball, and André Esterhuizen caught it. This resulted in referee Andrew Brace awarding a scrum to Italy, which the Boks had planned for. The volume in the stadium 🔊📈 Siya Kolisi bringing the Web Ellis Cup onto the pitch in Gqeberha before kick-off 🏆🇿🇦 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 13, 2025 The first-minute ploy did not reap rewards because the Springboks had a free kick awarded against them for going early in the resulting scrum. In another startling move, the Boks set up line-out mauls in open play in a move which took the capacity 45,000 crowd and the tourists by surprise. The novelty kickoff move, however, did not go down well with Italian coach Gonzalo Quesada, who said the world champions had not really needed to use the shock tactic to beat his side. 'I was really surprised and I did not take it really well,' he said. 'I don't think they needed to do it because they can beat us without using these kinds of tactics. A special night for Vincent Tshituka, Cobus Wiese, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Willie le Roux after the Springboks beat Italy 👏🇿🇦 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 13, 2025 'So I don't have a clue [about it], and for these last couple of weeks we were extremely respectful and we came with a lot of humility to the land of the world champions. 'They are deserved world champions, and the land of rugby and a land where we get inspired. 'Not from today because I came here for the first time in 1994 with my club, and I love coming to South Africa because when you are a rugby fan it's so nice to be here. 'I knew when South Africa prepared for this game they decided to dominate it and show they are the top-ranked team in the world. 'So I was surprised [by the kickoff] because I did not know if it was something we did or said that created that first move. 'I will only say I was really surprised because they did not need to do that to beat us or to show us anything. 'But it is part of their story and it does not concern us to analyse it.' JUST TEASING: Image: FREDLIN ADRIAAN Asked about the kickoff move, Erasmus said: 'Manie just made a mistake at the kickoff. No, I'm just teasing. 'We wanted a scrum to get onto the game. 'The Boks found that last week Italy gave quick channel ones and the ball was out and we wanted to get into the contest scrum quickly with that [kickoff ploy]. 'There are lots of plans and things we do that do not work, which people do not know about. 'People only see the things that sometimes work. That was a typical example of a plan that did not work. 'South Africa wanted to get a scrum where we could lay down the standards. The previous game was a channel one in and out for them. We had a bit of a plan but then we got a free kick against us. 'So it was a good plan in theory, but a bad plan in practice.' On the midfield line-outs, he said: 'Many teams do different tactical moves. 'We did a maul in general play where it's just not a guy on the ground but a guy we lifted. We saw it being done by a Paul Roos U14 team. 'You get all the benefits from what you get in the line-out if you support a guy in general play, so it worked twice for us. Obviously, now people will be alert to that. 'So it's done now for a couple of games, and we are glad it worked.' The Boks managed to blank Italy despite a setback after 22 minutes when No 8 Jasper Wiese was shown a red card by referee Brace for a headbutt on Italian loose-head Danilo Fischetti. Scorers SA 45 — Tries: Grant Williams, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Canan Moodie, Malcolm Marx, Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Manie Libbok (5). Italy 0 The Herald
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Five takeaways as Springboks showcase their brilliance in 45-0 victory over Italy
Centurion Willie le Roux had a try assist and were crucial in quite a few attacking Springbok moves against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday. Image: BackpagePix The Springboks produced a near-perfect performance in the second Test against Italy on Saturday in Gqeberha. There were innovative and smart plays to feast on as the home side romped to a 45-0 victory. Despite making plenty of changes, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus's faith in the untested combinations paid off. He would've gotten a lot of answers over certain players in the side after the double Tests. We look at five key points from the match. The Springboks are having fun out there! #RSAvITA — Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 12, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Boks are rugby's trendsetters Doc Erasmus really took innovation to another level with a short kick-off to force a scrum, and two rolling mauls manufactured in open play that led to tries. Of course, the bomb squad is his brainchild, but this took innovation to the next level, especially at a Test level. The maul was done by a school team in Stellenbosch; the kick-off was just something they thought of doing because Italy took their scrum weapon away last week at Loftus with quick scrums. So, they had a plan with these strange plays, and it paid off in a way. The Malmesbury missile is fit and firing While the attention was on the innovation and attack of the Springboks, World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit had a comeback of note. After last playing for the Boks in 2024's Year-end tour, the bruiser showed no signs of the shoulder injury that kept him out of the club rugby season. He quietly went about his business putting his shoulders into tackles and carrying the ball with almost no regard for his body. He looked sharp and will gradually keep building ahead of the Rugby Championship and those double Tests against the All Blacks. Pieter-Steph du Toit comes back after a lengthy injury and plays a full 80 like it's nothing. Generational player. — Philasande Sixaba (@psixaba) July 13, 2025 The newbies are ready for more Test matches The Springbok newcomers fitted in well with the squad over the past three matches and some of them will have one more opportunity against Georgia this coming weekend. But the South African coaches will be more than delighted with how these players have taken to rugby at the highest level. Three players in Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ethan Hooker, and Cobus Wiese made their debut, while Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Edwill van der Merwe added valuable caps. They all showed that they could make the step up to Test matches, alongside Vincent Tshituka who played in the first Test. Fringe players took their chances For several of the fringe players, like André Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie, Manie Libbok, and Makazole Mapimpi it was an outstanding opportunity to showcase their strengths and how they won't disappoint the Boks when called upon. They maintain the intensity of the regular guys and sometimes even do better. So, it leaves the Boks with plenty of healthy selection options that the rest of the world will be envious of. If they can maintain this ecosystem, it could be another top international season for the world champions. Just looked at it again, Jasper Wiese on your Bro's big day you've done something really dumb. No upside to it. — Rágnár Ván Töndérsön (@Slipcatch) July 13, 2025 A defensive masterclass despite the red card Despite the red card to Jasper Wiese and playing with 14 men for a large part of the game, the defensive organisation by the Boks and the execution of their tackles were excellent. Wiese, who must answer for his mishap, needs to thank his teammates for their efforts. Every single player put their body on the line to ensure Italy left Gqeberha with no points. A couple of times Italy managed to get on the outside with a man, but the Boks' scramble defence saved them. They were determined to keep the Italians scoreless and defended with heart, thwarting every onslaught that came their way.
The Herald
4 hours ago
- The Herald
Rassie surprises with new tricks
The first-minute ploy did not reap rewards because the Springboks had a free kick awarded against them for going early in the resulting scrum. In another startling move, the Boks set up line-out mauls in open play in a move which took the capacity 45,000 crowd and the tourists by surprise. The novelty kickoff move, however, did not go well with Italian coach Gonzalo Quesada, who said the world champions had not really needed to use the shock tactic to beat his side. 'I was really surprised and I did not take it really well,' he said. 'I don 't think they needed to do it because they can beat us without using these kinds of tactics. 'So I don ' t have a clue [about it], and for these last couple of weeks we were extremely respectful and we came with a lot of humility to the land of the world champions. 'They are deserved world champions, and the land of rugby and a land where we get inspired. 'Not from today because I came here for the first time in 1994 with my club, and I love coming to SA because when you are a rugby fan it ' s so nice to be here. 'I knew when SA prepared for this game they decided to dominate it and show they are the top-ranked team in the world. 'So I was surprised [by the kickoff] because I did not know if it was something we did or said that created that first move. 'I will only say I was really surprised because they did not need to do that to beat us or to show us anything. 'But it is part of their story and it does not concern us to analyse it.' Asked about the kickoff move, Erasmus said: 'Manie just made a mistake at the kickoff. No, I ' m just teasing. 'We wanted a scrum to get onto the game. 'The Boks found that last week Italy gave quick channel ones and the ball was out and we wanted to get into the contest scrum quickly with that [kickoff ploy]. 'There are lots of plans and things we do that do not work, which people do not know about. 'People only see the things that sometimes work. 'That was a typical example of a plan that did not work. 'SA wanted to get a scrum where we could lay down the standards. 'The previous game was a channel one in and out for them. 'We had a bit of a plan but then we got a free kick against us. 'So it was a good plan in theory, but a bad plan in practice.' On the midfield line-outs, he said: 'M any teams do different tactical moves. 'We did a maul in general play where it's just not a guy on the ground but a guy we lifted. 'We saw it being done by a Paul Roos U14 team. 'You get all the benefits from what you get in the line-out if you support a guy in general play, so it worked twice for us. 'Obviously, now people will be alert to that. 'So it's done now for a couple of games, and we are glad it worked.' The Boks managed to blank Italy despite a setback after 22 minutes when No 8 Jasper Wiese was shown a red card by referee Brace for a headbutt on Italian loose-head Danilo Fischetti. Scorers: SA 45: Tries: Grant Williams, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Canan Moodie, Malcolm Marx, Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Manie Libbok (5). Italy 0. The Herald
