All Blacks: AB's top dogs for 10 years

The All Blacks are exhibiting a ranking dominance rarely matched in history. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Record-breaking NZ dominate last decade, holding top spot for the last six years.

The All Blacks have set yet another record, becoming the first team to hold the world No 1 ranking for a total of 10 years.

While the World Cup ventures have not always turned out as hoped, their dominance of rugby is about as complete as possible by the IRB's ranking formula.

The All Blacks are zooming further ahead of the pack and the gap back to No2-ranked South Africa is far bigger than that between the Springboks and sixth-placed Wales.

The All Blacks are exhibiting a ranking dominance rarely matched in history, especially in team sports.

In modern times, they are closest to emulating golfer Tiger Woods who was world No1 for a total of 13 years.

The rugby ranking system was brought in by the IRB just before the 2003 World Cup.

It didn't start as it meant to go on because England were the first No 1-ranked team and Australia also started above New Zealand.

Since then, it has been an All Black landslide apart from three brief spells when they were at No 2.

South Africa is the only other country to hold the No1 spot which they last held in 2009, when the current All Black reign began.

Over that time the All Blacks have played 73 tests, losing twice each to Australia and South Africa, once to England, and two draws against their transtasman rivals.

All Blacks fullback Ben Smith made his debut against Italy two days after New Zealand re-gained the No1 spot, meaning the side have held the top ranking during all of his 38 test appearances.