In beating Australia in Sydney to claim their second victory of the Tri Nations, and the Bledisloe Cup, New Zealand have closed to within 0.83 rating points of South Africa at the top of the IRB World Rankings.
The All Blacks have now won five tests in a row against Trans-Tasman rivals the Wallabies, who still occupy third in the world, ahead of Ireland in fourth.
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South Africa have won all three of their matches so far, all on home soil, and now face three away ties in Perth, Brisbane and Hamilton.
Victories away from home would further strengthen their lead at the pinnacle of world rugby, however if the Springboks do not maintain their winning run they will lose the World number one berth.
In the first of those matches, they take on the Wallabies in Perth on 29 August.
A loss for South Africa by any margin against Australia would take them back underneath New Zealand in the rankings.
The IRB World Rankings update every Monday at 12:00 UK time.
