Wales have officially become the top-ranked rugby side in the world today after the official rankings were updated.

Despite New Zealand bouncing back against Australia at the weekend after succumbing to the Wallabies in a shock defeat the previous weekend, the All Blacks' result wasn't enough to keep them in the top spot.

By defeating England 13-6 in Cardiff to redeem themselves after a disappointing Twickenham outing, Wales knocked the current world champions off the number one position - ending New Zealand's 509-week run at the top. Wales picked up more ranking points for beating an England team ranked higher than Australia.

Now, as is usual, World Rugby have updated the world rankings this morning.

Steve Hansen appeared bemused at a press conference on Sunday, asking "How do you work that out?" while the national UK media reaction predicted the All Blacks won't lose any sleep over this Wales side.

And despite their new-found top spot, it seems the bookies aren't giving Wales much hope at the Rugby World Cup, either.

Wales are largely fifth favourites going into the global showpiece in Japan, with the All Blacks - as you'd expect - remaining the favourites to make it three World Cup final wins on the trot.

A powerful-looking South Africa and England, with their physicality and strength in depth, are the teams most likely to cause the All Blacks a headache, according to the bookmakers, with Ireland in fourth, before Warren Gatland's Six Nations Grand Slam champions come in as fifth-favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

The World Rugby rankings

1 WALES 89.43

2 NEW ZEALAND 89.40

3 IRELAND 88.69

4 SOUTH AFRICA 86.83

5 ENGLAND 86.79

6 AUSTRALIA 84.05

7 FRANCE 80.58

8 SCOTLAND 79.01

9 JAPAN 77.21

10 FIJI 76.98

Rugby World Cup 2019 winner odds

(courtesy of thepools.com)

  • New Zealand (23/20)

  • South Africa (9/2)

  • England (5/1)

  • Ireland (7/1)

  • Wales (17/2)

  • Australia (12/1)

  • France (33/1)

  • Scotland (40/1)

  • Argentina (40/1)

  • Japan (150/1)

Wales at the Rugby World Cup

The rankings could change yet again this weekend when England host Ireland in a Rugby World Cup warm-up.

Eddie Jones' men will not be able to go above Wales in the rankings if they win, but a victory away from home for Joe Schmidt's Ireland - by any margin - on Saturday would see them overtake Wales in the table and snatch the number one spot.