The Springboks have moved to 94.33 points at the top of the World Rugby rankings following their 29-24 victory over New Zealand at FNB Stadium, extending their cushion over the All Blacks to 2.43 points.
The win added 0.94 points to South Africa's tally. New Zealand, who had briefly gone top after the first Test in Cape Town, slip back to 91.90 and also missed the opportunity to become the first side to exchange the top ranking three weeks in succession.
Tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx and a penalty try — the latter from a dominant scrum — gave South Africa a 29-point haul, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting twice and adding a penalty. The All Blacks crossed four times through Ardie Savea (two), Will Jordan and Samisoni Taukei'aho, but missed kicks proved the margin.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Australia remain seventh after drawing 28-28 with Argentina in Buenos Aires. The Wallabies led 14-0 approaching half-time before Los Pumas levelled before the break, and though Argentina moved 28-21 ahead in the second half, a late penalty try denied Les Kiss' side what would have been a series-clinching win. Argentina close the gap on Australia marginally but remain 1.31 points behind in eighth.
Japan's 57-12 thumping of Canada — Takato Okabe among the scorers inside the opening five minutes as Eddie Jones' side ran in nine tries — leaves them stationary in 12th on 75.36 points.