Europe 1 with AFP 8:37 p.m., July 09, 2022
For the first time in its history, France will take the lead in the world rankings on Monday, the equivalent of the FIFA rankings in football, according to estimates from World Rugby.
Undefeated this season with 10 consecutive victories, Fabien Galthié's men would be ahead of South Africa.
France, on the roof of the rugby planet.
Victorious over Japan 20-15, this Saturday in Tokyo, she will become world number 1 on Monday, a first since the establishment of the ranking in 2003, according to projections by World Rugby, the governing body of world rugby.
Fabien Galthié's men, undefeated this season with 10 victories in a row - also a first in the history of the XV of France - will now overtake South Africa, previous world number 1, beaten by Wales on the wire (13-12) Saturday.
New Zealand, only fourth
If the Springboks, world champions had won, they would have remained at the top of the world rankings, but their defeat, combined with the Blues' second victory in Japan and an All Blacks loss of less than 15 points against Ireland (23-12) allows the French to get ahead of them in the next ranking which will be published on Monday.
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South Africa will even drop to third place in the standings, overtaken by Ireland who signed a historic success in New Zealand on Saturday in Dunedin.
The All Blacks thus fell from second to fourth place, their worst place since the establishment of the world rankings.