South Africa's top ranking on the line again this weekend
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A vastly changed Springbok 23 will be tasked with defending South Africa's top place on the World Rugby rankings, with three teams able to spring ahead of the Boks.
World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the men's internationals this weekend, including Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers and the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.
South Africa, New Zealand, France and Ireland can all end the weekend as number one.
It's plain and simple for Jacques Nienaber's charges; win, and they cannot relinquish their top spot this weekend.
As it was last weekend, France could soar to the top of the rankings if they defeat the Brave Blossoms and both South Africa and New Zealand lose.
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In this scenario, Ireland would be second, with South Africa falling to third and New Zealand to their lowest ever ranking of fourth. If South Africa’s margin of defeat is by more than 15 points then the Springboks could drop from first to fourth.
In the event that Ireland beat New Zealand by more than 15 points, then they will climb to number one for the first time since Rugby World Cup 2019 – as long as South Africa lose.
A draw in Bloemfontein between South Africa and Wales A South African draw will be enough to see New Zealand reclaim top spot with a victory over Ireland.
Wales could also rise the rankings by defeating the Springboks. They could climb two places with victory, depending on the margin and the result of Argentina v Scotland.
A victorious Japan will climb above a beaten Wales into ninth place. Eighth place is possible if Japan win by more than 15 points and Scotland also lose by the same margin in Argentina.
France will surrender third place to Ireland if they lose by more than 15 points, even if the Irish are beaten by the same margin in Dunedin.
Les Bleus cannot fall from fourth even with a loss by more than 15 points as neither Australia or England can overtake them with a win by the same margin.
Australia and Wales can trade places again if England beat the Wallabies in Brisbane. Dave Rennie's charges cannot fall lower than sixth as they would still hold at least a 0.20 rating point cushion over a victorious Argentina below them.
Argentina will fall two places if they lose to Scotland, and Wales create history in South Africa. A three-place fall is also possible, but only if either Scotland or Japan win by more than 15 points.
Scotland will become the higher ranked of the two nations again if they avoid defeat in Argentina, regaining the place they lost to Los Pumas after the first test.
Scotland could fall to 10th in defeat if Japan and Wales win, depending on the scorelines.
PACIFIC NATIONS CUP
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Samoa will remain the higher-ranked of the two nations even in defeat against Tonga.
Tonga will climb above Spain into 15th place, even if both are victorious against Samoa and Canada, respectively.
ELSEWHERE
Georgia will climb one place with victory over Italy, regaining the place lost to the Azzurri last weekend. Italy will fall two places in defeat unless Samoa are beaten by lower-ranked Tonga.
The Azzurri cannot improve on 12th place even with an emphatic victory as Fiji, the side immediately above them, cannot be caught. Uruguay could jump two places to 16th if they beat Romania, depending on the results of teams around them in the rankings
However, Los Teros could drop to 20th if they lose by more than 15 points and other results go against them. Romania could also end the weekend ranked 20th if this scenario comes in tandem with wins away from home for USA and Spain.
Chile could climb as high as 21st – their highest position ever – depending on their margin of victory over USA and the results of teams around them in the rankings. Victory may not be enough to improve USA’s ranking of 17th with every team around them also in action this weekend
WORLD RANKINGS SUMMARY:
JAPAN (10) 77.90 v FRANCE (3) 89.24
Japan win by 15 points or less – Japan 79.74, France 87.41
Japan win by more than 15 points – Japan 80.65, France 86.49
Draw – Japan 78.74, France 88.41
France win by 15 points or less – Japan 77.74, France 89.41
France win by more than 15 points – Japan 77.65, France 89.49
NEW ZEALAND (2) 89.72 v IRELAND (4) 87.25
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 90.17, Ireland 86.79
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 90.40, Ireland 86.57
Draw – New Zealand 89.17, Ireland 87.79
Ireland win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 88.17, Ireland 88.79
Ireland win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 87.40, Ireland 89.57
AUSTRALIA (5) 84.68 v ENGLAND (6) 83.74
Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 85.28, England 83.14
Australia win by more than 15 points – Australia 85.59, England 82.83
Draw – Australia 84.28, England 84.14
England win by 15 points or less – Australia 83.28, England 85.14
England win by more than 15 points – Australia 82.59, England 85.83
SOUTH AFRICA (1) 90.61 v WALES (9) 79.28
South Africa win by 15 points or less – South Africa 90.61, Wales 79.28 (No change)
South Africa win by more than 15 points – South Africa 90.61, Wales 79.28 (No change)
Draw – South Africa 89.61, Wales 80.28
Wales win by 15 points or less – South Africa 88.61, Wales 81.28
Wales win by more than 15 points – South Africa 87.61, Wales 82.28
ARGENTINA (7) 81.40 v SCOTLAND (8) 80.98
Argentina win by 15 points or less – Argentina 82.06, Scotland 80.32
Argentina win by more than 15 points – Argentina 82.39, Scotland 79.99
Draw – Argentina 81.06, Scotland 81.32
Scotland win by 15 points or less – Argentina 80.06, Scotland 82.32
Scotland win by more than 15 points – Argentina 79.39, Scotland 82.99
CANADA (21) 62.01 v SPAIN (15) 68.26
Canada win by 15 points or less – Canada 63.33, Spain 66.93
Canada win by more than 15 points – Canada 63.99, Spain 66.27
Draw – Canada 62.33, Spain 67.93
Spain win by 15 points or less – Canada 61.33, Spain 68.93
Spain win by more than 15 points – Canada 60.99, Spain 69.27
GEORGIA (13) 73.78 v ITALY (12) 74.02
Georgia win by 15 points or less – Georgia 74.51, Italy 73.29
Georgia win by more than 15 points – Georgia 74.87, Italy 72.93
Draw – Georgia 73.51, Italy 74.29
Italy win by 15 points or less – Georgia 72.51, Italy 75.29
Italy win by more than 15 points – Georgia 71.87, Italy 75.93
URUGUAY (18) 66.40 v ROMANIA (19) 65.90
Uruguay win by 15 points or less – Uruguay 67.05, Romania 65.25
Uruguay win by more than 15 points – Uruguay 67.37, Romania 64.93
Draw – Uruguay 66.05, Romania 66.25
Romania win by 15 points or less – Uruguay 65.05, Romania 67.25
Romania win by more than 15 points – Uruguay 64.37, Romania 67.93
WORLD RUGBY PACIFIC NATIONS CUP
SAMOA (14) 73.59 v TONGA (16) 67.72
Samoa win by 15 points or less – Samoa 74.00, Tonga 67.31
Samoa win by more than 15 points – Samoa 74.21, Tonga 67.10
Draw: Samoa 73.00, Tonga 68.31
Tonga win by 15 points or less – Samoa 72.00, Tonga 69.31
Tonga win by more than 15 points – Samoa 71.21, Tonga 70.10
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 QUALIFIER – AMERICAS 2 PLAY-OFF, LEG ONE
CHILE (23) 59.88 v USA (17) 66.54
Chile win by 15 points or less – Chile 61.24, USA 65.17
Chile win by more than 15 points – Chile 61.93, USA 64.49
Draw: Chile 60.24, USA 66.17
USA win by 15 points or less – Chile 59.24, USA 67.17
USA win by more than 15 points – Chile 58.93, USA 67.49
CREDIT: WORLD RUGBY
