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Jubilation and celebration: Jimmy Cowan and Daniel Carter - Source: Photosport -
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The All Blacks have returned to the top of the IRB world rankings following a weekend of internationals which saw numerous changes to the Top 10 with only Australia remaining static in third place.
New Zealand did not improve their own rating with a 20-6 victory over Italy at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, but regain the place they lost in July as a result of South Africa suffering a 20-13 loss to France in Toulouse.
New Zealand now have a 0.55 point advantage over the side that beat them three times in the Tri Nations with the Wallabies more than four points adrift of South Africa after a 20-20 draw with Ireland in Dublin, the IRB website reported.
Despite seeing victory snatched from their grasp by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll's last minute try at Croke Park on Monday, Australia increase their rating points by seven hundredths to 85.63.
The draw though means Ireland have lost their mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation with France assuming fourth place, albeit by mere thousandths with both sitting on 83.20 points.
England's 16-9 victory over Argentina sees them climb two places to sixth with the Pumas and Wales - the 17-13 conquerors of Samoa on Saturday - both slipping one as a result.
Only a tenth now separates Wales and Argentina ahead of their meeting in Cardiff this weekend.
Wales still have a cushion of more than four points over Scotland, who swap places with Fiji after beating the islanders 23-10 at Murrayfield.
