Wales have moved to the top of the world rankings for the first time in history following New Zealand’s record 47-26 defeat to Australia in Perth.
The official World Rugby table won’t be updated until the completion of this weekend’s Test programme so Warren Gatland’s charges could lose their new-found status if they are defeated by England at Twickenham tomorrow in the first of their four warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.
However, the metrics that World Rugby use to calculate the rankings have seen the All Blacks slip below Wales for the time being.
Wales coach Gatland has picked a near first XV for that clash and they’re odds-on favourites to beat an experimental England side.
New Zealand only held a 1.58 point lead over Wales in the rankings ahead of today’s match with Australia.
A defeat for the back-to-back world champions in front of a record crowd of 61,241 at the Optus Stadium resulted in them being knocked off the top of the rankings for the first time since November 2009, with Wales taking their place.
England and South Africa were the only other countries to have occupied time at the head of the leaderboard.
Australia had led 16-12 at the end of a pulsating first half courtesy of a try from winger Reece Hodge, and a conversion and three penalties from outside-half Christian Leali’ifano.
They had raced into a 10-point lead but New Zealand responded with tries from centre Anton Lienert-Brown and winger Rieko Ioane, outside-half Richie Mo’unga converting one, to edge two points ahead.
But a penalty from Leali’ifano put Australia back in front with the big moment coming on the stroke of half-time when the All Blacks had lock Scott Barrett – the brother of Beauden Barrett – sent off for a shoulder charge into the neck and head of Wallaby skipper Michael Hooper.
And Australia took advantage with lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto scoring from an overlap and impressive scrum-half Nic White being on the end of a spectacular break-out as they extended their advantage to 14 points.
The All Blacks replied with a try from full-back Beauden Barrett, converted by Mo’unga, but left-wing Marika Koroibete eased Wallaby nerves by forcing his way over from close-range for Leali’ifano to add the extra points.
Hodge and Ngani Laumape traded late tries before Kurtley Beale went over to confirm the superiority of the Wallabies.
On the downside for Wales, Australia proved how dangerous they could be when the countries clash in Tokyo next month in Pool D of the World Cup.
