The Springboks finish the year ranked No. 1 for the sixth time since the World Rugby Rankings were introduced in 2003 and the fifth time in the last six years.
The Boks achieved the feat for the first time. 2007 It ends after France wins the World Cup (your ranking doubles for global national team matches). 90.82 Ranking Points (1.21 They are ahead of the All Blacks in second place.
John Smit’s Boks had one of their best seasons in 2009. They won the Lions series and topped the Tri-Nations, but two losses on the end-of-year tour saw them drop to second behind New Zealand.
Boks had to wait. 2019 Japan coach Rassie Erasmus finished the year in first place again after winning the World Cup. 94.20 (2.08 ahead of the All Blacks).
The world champions maintained first place. 2020 Despite not playing a single game due to COVID-19, the year ended with a huge event. 4.71 Their ranking points lead them to their highest on New Year’s Eve, ahead of the All Blacks (who were able to play six games).
That lead was over for the Boks. 2021 Despite winning only 8 out of 13 tests, he was ranked first, but his ranking score was 90.61New Zealand closed the gap. 1.86.
After dropping to fourth place in 2022, the Boks have risen back to first place in 2022. 2023 France concluded the tournament after defending its World Cup title. 94.54 Ranking Points (3.97 (more than Ireland).
in 2024The Boks achieved their highest ever score of 94.86 when they beat Ireland in the first Test at Loftus in July. They went on to win 11 of 13 Tests and ended the year in first place. with 92.78 point (2.00 (more than Ireland).
For reference, South Africa ranked first. 10 individual situations: 2007-08, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2019-21, 2021, 2021-22, 2023, 2023-24 and 2024.
The Boks’ best records are: 98 weeks (4 November 2019 to 20 September 2021) And they have spent a total of 250 weeks there since 2003 (the All Blacks hold the record with 743 weeks).
Springboks’ year-end World Rugby rankings:
2003: 5
2004: 4
2005: 2
2006: 4
2007: 1
2008: 2
2009: 2
2010: 3
2011: 4
2012: 2
2013: 2
2014: 2
2015: 3
2016: 6
2017: 6
2018: 5
2019: 1
2020: 1
2021: 1
2022: 4
2023: 1
2024: 1
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
