Wales have sunk to an all-time low of 14th in the latest rugby world rankings, published today. Having previously sat in 12th, Matt Sherratt's side have been overtaken by Japan and Samoa in the latest round of rankings, plumbing unprecedented depths that will only serve to underline the feeling of accelerating decline within the Welsh game. Wales stretched their winless run to 18 straight Tests with a 24-19 defeat at the hands of Japan, a result that means they have now gone nearly two years without a win. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. It's a record losing streak for a tier one nation, with this defeat also representing Japan's first against tier one opposition for six years. They are now sat just above the USA in 15th. Wales face the Brave Blossoms again this weekend in Kobe, and will be desperate to end their drought. Meanwhile, South Africa remain top of the pile, ahead of New Zealand, Ireland and France, all of whom remain unchanged in the top four. The only other real change in the top 20 is England's rise to fifth. They overtake Argentina, who drop into sixth. That move comes after England's impressive recent 35-12 win over the Pumas in Buenos Aires that saw a massive four point swing in rankings scores. Scotland say in seventh, while Australia, who are gearing up to face the British and Irish Lions this summer, hold firm in eighth. Fiji and Italy round off the top 10, while Georgia sit in eleventh. Rankings in full 1. South Africa – 92.78 2. New Zealand – 90.98 (+0.62) 3. Ireland – 89.83 4. France – 88.90 (−0.62) 5. England – 86.72 (+1.99) ↑6 6. Argentina – 82.98 (−1.99) ↓5 7. Scotland – 82.36 8. Australia – 82.08 (+0.55) 9. Fiji – 79.52 (−0.55) 10. Italy – 77.77 11. Georgia – 74.69 12. Japan – 73.70 (+0.74) ↑13 13. Samoa – 72.68 ↑14 14. Wales – 72.65 (−0.74) ↓12 15. USA – 70.02 16. Spain – 67.34 17. Uruguay – 67.06 18. Portugal – 66.44 19. Tonga – 65.46 20. Romania – 64.61