South Africa's third loss in as many weeks in the 2010 Tri Nations means they now sit only seven tenths above their latest conquerors Australia in second place in the IRB World Rankings.
The defending Tri Nations champions fell to a 30-13 loss against
Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday - their eighth loss in a
row in Brisbane - and as a result their rating points fell by 1.46
to 86.76.
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This means that the Springboks have now dropped 2.7 rating
points since the Tri Nations began on 10 July and they return to
South Africa sitting 5.98 rating points behind number one side New
Zealand.
Tries from Drew Mitchell and Will Genia, along with 15
points from the boot of Matt Giteau and five from James
O'Connor, gave Australia a winning start in their quest for a
first Tri Nations title since 2001.
The win also increases the cushion that Robbie Deans'
side enjoy over France, the highest ranked of the northern
hemisphere nations in fourth, to 3.31 rating points.
Australia now welcome the All Blacks to Melbourne this
weekend for the first Bledisloe Cup encounter of 2010 only seven
tenths off second place, a position they have not occupied since a
brief one-week spell back in September 2008.
