The Springboks have the All Blacks hot on their heels in World Rugby’s Test rankings after New Zealand climbed one spot by beating the world champions on Saturday.

The All Blacks rallied to end a run of five defeats in six Test matches by punishing the Boks with a well-deserved 35-23 win at Ellis Park.

After falling to their lowest ever fifth place on the rankings a week earlier, the Kiwis moved back above England with victory in Johannesburg and just 0.02 ranking points behind the third-placed Boks.

KEO: Inspired All Blacks embarrass sympathetic Springboks

Had the All Blacks won by more than 15 points, they would’ve overtaken South Africa on the global standings.

Ireland sit atop the world rankings with 90.03 points, ahead of France (89.41) and SA ( 87.78), with New Zealand now on 87.76.

The other shakeup from the Rugby Championship action on Saturday was that Australia dropped below Scotland after Argentina thumped the Wallabies 48-17 in San Juan – the Aussies slipping to seventh to equal their lowest ever ranking.

The Boks next face Australia at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, 27 August, while the All Blacks host Argentina in Christchurch.

KEO: Mentally frail Springboks bomb

Photo: @AllBlacks/Twitter