New Zealand fans have plenty of cause for celebration having seen the All Blacks not only equal the world record for consecutive test wins by a tier one nation, following Saturday's 57-15 victory over South Africa in Durban, but also increase their lead at the top of the World Rugby Rankings.
The All Blacks gained 0.27 of a rating point to move on to 96.57 points, increasing the gap between themselves and second-placed England to 7.08 points.
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Saturday’s victory was the All Blacks’ biggest over old foes South Africa and stretched their winning run to 17 tests, a record they already share with the Springboks.
As has been the case throughout their procession to the Rugby Championship 2016 title, New Zealand had to be patient before pulling away from the opposition to register their sixth straight victory.
Five kicks from Morne Steyn had kept South African within 10 points of the visitors as the hour-mark approached, however New Zealand scored four tries in the last 10 minutes to round off their campaign in style.
Scrum-half TJ Perenara and wing Israel Dagg both bagged braces while Beauden Barrett, Codie Taylor, Ben Smith and Liam Squire also got in on the act.
It is the third time New Zealand have won 17 successive tests. They can break their record in the next match, the Bledisloe Cup against Australia in Auckland on 22 October.
AUSSIES ON THE UP
South Africa’s defeat combined with Australia’s 33-21 win over Argentina at Twickenham means the Wallabies leapfrog the Springboks into third place in the rankings. They are now on 85.33 points – still more than four adrift of England – with South Africa on 84.85.
A crowd of 48,000 turned up to see the first-ever Rugby Championship game to be played at Twickenham, and it was Australia, once they had sorted out their disciplinary issues, that dealt with the occasion better.
Australia led 18-15 after 45 minutes despite losing two men to first half yellow cards, but Samu Kerevi’s second try of the match and one from Dean Mumm saw the Wallabies clinch a comfortable victory that ensured them of second place in the Rugby Championship table with Argentina propping up the bottom.
Los Pumas fall to ninth in the rankings, with France and Scotland moving up one place to seventh and eighth respectively.