Japan have moved up to seventh in the World Rugby rankings following their riveting 28-21 victory over Scotland in Yokohama on Sunday.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup host nation had forced their way into the top 10 a few weeks ago and moved up to eighth just two weeks ago.
But the result against the Scots in Yokohama has now moved them above France to seventh place on the elite list, their highest-ever position since the rankings were introduced in October 2003.
Japan now sit only 1.44 points behind Australia in sixth, with the top eight in the rankings mirroring the eight nations who will contest the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals between 20 and 21 October.
Scotland remain ninth after the loss, although their advantage over Argentina has been slashed from 3.83 rating points to 0.92 of a point after Los Pumas ended their campaign with a 47-17 victory over USA earlier in the week.
World Rugby rankings:
1. New Zealand 90.98
2. Wales 88.87
3. England 88.13
4. Ireland 85.93
5. South Africa 85.75
6. Australia 83.52
7. Japan 82.08
8. France 81.38
9. Scotland 79.23
10. Argentina 78.31
Full rankings
How the rankings work
Photo: Kaz Photography/Getty Images
