France have overtaken the All Blacks in the latest update to the World Rugby rankings.
In the final game of the 2022 Six Nations championship France beat England 25 points to 13 to win the Grand Slam. This was France's first championship win since 2010.
France captain Antoine Dupont was named Player of the Match in their Grand Slam decider against England last Saturday. Dupont has been one of the best players in World Rugby arguably over the past 2 years. His list of accolades is impressive. Last year he played a pivotal role in Toulouse’s double, winning both the Top14 and the Champions Cup. He scooped World Rugby player of the year for 2021 and now can add Grand Slam captain to his rugby CV. Subsequently Dupont has been nominated for player of the tournament for 2022 alongside fellow Frenchman Gregory Aldritt and Irish back row Josh van der Flier.
The All Blacks who were in 2nd position in the rankings until this week, haven’t played a test match since last November with the Southern Hemisphere club season only recently started. The All Blacks ended their 2021 season with unprecedented back to back losses against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium and the following week against France in Paris. France have now overtaken the All Blacks in the World Rugby rankings and the sides will next face in the 2023 Rugby World Cup as the opening match of the tournament.
Fabien Galthie and France are now closing in on World Cup Champions South Africa who remain at the top of the World Rugby Rankings.
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