Boks narrow gap to All Blacks

CAPE TOWN – Following their 19-10 win over France in Paris, the Springboks have narrowed the gap to No 1-ranked New Zealand in the IRB world rankings. The All Blacks edged Ireland 24-22 in Dublin on Sunday and finished atop the rankings for a fourth straight year. New Zealand stayed on 93.81 rating points though, with South Africa slightly increasing their rating from the previous week.
The Boks finished the year on 89.34 points, 4.47 points behind the Kiwis after trailing by 5.04 last week.

Australia – who beat Scotland 21-15 in Edinburgh – moved back into the top three, replacing England, while Wales moved past France into fifth spot after beating Tonga 17-7 in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, the Australian Rugby Union announced yesterday that France will tour the country in June to play a three-match Test series.

It will be Les Bleus’ first visit to the country in five years and the first time they face each other since Australia were humbled 33-6 in Paris in November 2012.

“Australian Rugby Union today announced the Qantas Wallabies will take on France in a three Test series in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney next year as part of The Castrol EDGE France Tour,” said an Australian Rugby statement.

“It will be the first tour to Australia by a French international Test side since 2009 when they lost 22 to 6 to the Wallabies in Sydney.”
The first match will be at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on 7 June with further clashes at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne a week later and in Sydney at the Allianz Stadium on 21 June.

While Australia will be looking for revenge for last year’s heavy defeat in Paris, the ARU have not forgotten past success.
“It will be the first tour to Australia by a French international Test side since 2009 when they lost 22 to 6 to the Wallabies in Sydney,” it said.

“The last time Australia faced France they suffered a heavy 33 to 6 defeat during the Wallabies opening 2012 Spring Tour match in Paris against a French side described as ‘powerful and flamboyant’.

“There’s no doubt in 2014 the Men in Gold will be looking for vengeance.
“It was a different story in 2010 when Australia had a strong 59-16 win over France (in Paris).

“The 43 point margin was a record for Australia in both their home and away matches against the French,” gloated the ARU.
The two sides have met each other 42 times with Australia winning 23 and France coming out on top 17 times, with two draws.

The most famous encounter between the teams was the 1999 World Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when the Wallabies triumphed 35-12 for their second world crown, and France’s second defeat in a final.-Sport24.