South Africa not only secured the Tri Nations title with a 32-29 victory over New Zealand - their third successive victory over New Zealand in 2009 - but also strengthened their position at the top of the IRB World Rankings.
The Springboks, who last won the Tri Nations back in 2004, now sit an unassailable 12 points clear at the top of the standings with only one match remaining this year, the third of four Bledisloe Cup matches between New Zealand v Australia.
South Africa's victory at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton turns what was a four hundredth advantage over New Zealand going into the match into a 2.6 rating point advantage over the All Blacks.
It has not, though, recouped all of the points lost by the Springboks following their 21-6 defeat by Australia in Brisbane the previous weekend.
New Zealand still sit comfortably in second place, 3.36 points above Australia but all that could change if the Wallabies can build on their impressive defeat of the South Africa when they meet the All Blacks in Wellington this weekend.
Ukraine on the rise
Meanwhile in the European Nations Cup, Ukraine maintained their unbeaten record against Poland with a 19-12 victory in Kiev on Saturday to move clear at the top of Division 2A and climb one place to 30th in the IRB World Rankings.
Ukraine, who had beaten Poland 13-12 in Lodz last year, had gone into the opening European Nations Cup match of 2009/10 trailing their visitors Poland by one place and 0.25 rating points.
However the eighth consecutive victory over Poland means that the sides swap places with Ukraine now the highest ranked side in Division 2A and sitting only seven hundreths behind Brazil above them.
The defeat means that Poland now sit only three hundredths above Belgium, another side in Division 2A which forms part of the region's qualifying process for Rugby World Cup 2011 with the winner to face Lithuania next summer.
