Ireland could snatch top ranking away from France

France moved to the top of the World Rugby Rankings after last weekend's test action but they could move down just one week later.

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the men's internationals this weekend, including a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier and the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

South Africa moved down to third place but are unable to reclaim their place this weekend as a victorious Ireland are the only team able to replace France at the top of the rankings.

Ireland spent two weeks atop the rankings in September 2019, having become the fifth team to occupy top spot on 9 September off the back of a 19-10 victory over Wales.

_{The other nations to top the rankings are England, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.}

They could return to the top of the rankings some three years later. 

Any margin of victory would also see Ireland break the 90-rating point mark for the first time since the rankings began in October 2003. France currently sits top with 89.41 ranking points and have completed their tour of Japan, with no test matches this weekend.

THE WEEKEND'S FIXTURES

 _{South Africa cannot improve their rating with victory over Wales due to the 7.33 rating points between the sides before home weighting is factored in.} 

An All Blacks victory in the series-deciding test match on Saturday would mean that France’s first foray to the top of the rankings will last longer than a week.

The Boks could fall as low as fifth if they lose by more than 15 points against Wales, depending on results in Australia and New Zealand.

Victory for New Zealand will see them swap places with Ireland and ensure their stay at fourth – their lowest ever ranking – is short-lived. New Zealand will climb above South Africa into third if both sides draw this weekend.

The All Blacks could fall to a new low if they are defeated by more than 15 points, depending on the results in South Africa and Australia. In this case, they could drop to fifth.

Eddie Jones' England could end their tour in Australia in third place if they win by more than 15 points, providing that New Zealand lose by the same margin and South Africa lose. However, they could fall to seventh if they lose by more than 15 points and Scotland beat Argentina.

Australia must win by more than 15 points to climb back above England into fifth. The Wallabies could fall two places to a new low of eighth if they lose and Wales and Scotland both win on the road.

Los Pumas cannot improve on ninth place even if they beat Scotland by more than 15 points. Japan are not in action this weekend, therefore, Argentina will remain ninth but could see their cushion cut to just 0.24 over the Brave Blossoms below if they suffer a heavy defeat.

Scotland could jump as high as fifth – equalling their highest ever position – if they win by more than 15 points and Australia win by a smaller margin. 

Over to the Pacific Nations Cup, Fiji cannot improve on 11th place with victory over Samoa but could close to only 0.43 rating points behind Japan. Samoa will jump two places to 11th with victory, becoming the higher ranked of the two nations in the process

Fiji will fall two places – effectively swapping places with Samoa – if they lose by more than 15 points and Georgia beat Portugal. USA cannot improve their rating with victory over Chile due to the 7.93 rating points between the sides before home weighting is factored in. The Eagles will climb one place to 16th in victory if Romania slip to defeat in Uruguay.

USA will drop below Tonga if held to a draw by Chile – a result which would still see them qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 as Americas 2 – and could fall as low as 19th in defeat.

Chile will jump two or three places to their highest ever ranking in victory. Georgia cannot improve their rating with victory over Portugal due to the 9.43 rating points between the sides before home weighting is factored in.

Portugal can still fall one place if beaten in tandem with a win for Uruguay against higher-ranked Romania. The Lelos will fall one or two places in defeat, depending on the outcome of Fiji v Samoa
Portugal could climb as high as 16th if they win by more than 15 points and Romania lost to Uruguay.

Uruguay must beat Romania by more than 15 points to climb back above the Oaks with 17th place possible depending on the outcome of USA v Chile and Georgia v Portugal matches. This margin of defeat could cause Romania to fall at least three places

THE WORLD RANKINGS AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND'S TEST MATCHES: