South Africa's top spot on the World Rugby rankings under siege

South Africa's number one ranking is on the line this weekend, with New Zealand, France and Ireland capable of usurping the Springboks.

World Rugby have published the ranking permutations for the men's internationals this weekend.

Due to the 11.33 rating points gap between South Africa and Wales, even a large victory for the Springboks at Loftus Versveld on Saturday will not earn them any ranking points.

If Jacques Nienaber's charges fall to Wales in Pretoria, a win of any kind will send Ireland or New Zealand to the top of the World Rankings.

A win of any kind will secure South Africa's number one World Ranking regardless of the results in the other test matches around the world.

However, the Springboks could fall as low as fourth if all of the following occurs:

• They lose by more than 15 points.
• France beat Japan.
• New Zealand and Ireland draw. 

In this scenario, France would go top of the rankings, Ireland go second, and New Zealand third.

An unwanted record is on the cards for Ian Foster's men as the All Blacks could slip to their lowest-ever ranking of fourth if they lose and France defeats Japan.

If South Africa win, New Zealand will still gain one place with a victory regardless of France's result in Japan.

Fabien Galthie could become the first coach to take France to the top of the rankings if South Africa lose, it is a draw at Eden Park, and they claim victory over Japan.

Ireland will be the higher-ranked of the two nations if they avoid defeat in New Zealand.

Down Under, Australia will climb above England in fifth place with victory in the opening test in Perth. Conversely, Eddie Jones' England can move into fourth place only if they win by more than 15 points and France loses to Japan by the same margin.

INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES

The Brave Blossoms will climb above a beaten Wales into ninth if they beat France and could climb another place to eighth if they win by more than 15 points and Wales are beaten, and Scotland lose by the same margin in Argentina.

France will fall two places to fourth if they lose to Japan and could drop another place if the margin of defeat for them and Australia against England is more than 15 points.

Wayne Pivac's Wales can climb above a beaten Scotland if they can defeat South Africa in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Fiji are unable to improve their rating with victory over Tonga due to the 8.9 rating points between them. However, Tonga will climb above Spain into 15th if they draw and Romania fails to beat Italy.

The Romanians could move into the top 15 if they beat Italy by more than 15 points and Tonga lose to Fiji in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

Italy will climb above Samoa into 13th place if they beat Romania with Samoa's match against Australia A in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup not counting towards the rankings.

Romania will fall two places in defeat, into 19th, with USA and Uruguay the beneficiaries. 

 

Michael Cheika could improve Los Pumas' world ranking in his first game in charge if they beat Scotland in Jujuy. Scotland could fall as low as 10th depending on the margin of defeat and the results in South Africa and Japan.

WORLD RANKINGS SUMMARY:

ROMANIA (17) 66.95 v ITALY (14) 72.97

Romania win by 15 points or less – Romania 68.25, Italy 71.67

Romania win by more than 15 points – Romania 68.90, Italy 71.02

Draw – Romania 67.25, Italy 72.67

Italy win by 15 points or less – Romania 66.25, Italy 73.67

Italy win by more than 15 points – Romania 65.90, Italy 74.02

NEW ZEALAND (3) 88.75 v IRELAND (4) 88.22

New Zealand win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 89.39, Ireland 87.57

New Zealand win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 89.72, Ireland 87.25

Draw – New Zealand 88.39, Ireland 88.57

Ireland win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 87.39, Ireland 89.57

Ireland win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 86.72, Ireland 90.25

JAPAN (10) 78.26 v FRANCE (2) 88.88

Japan win by 15 points or less – Japan 80.02, France 87.12

Japan win by more than 15 points – Japan 80.90, France 86.24

Draw – Japan 79.02, France 88.12

France win by 15 points or less – Japan 78.02, France 89.12

France win by more than 15 points – Japan 77.90, France 89.24

AUSTRALIA (6) 83.92 v ENGLAND (5) 84.50

Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 84.68, England 83.74

Australia win by more than 15 points – Australia 85.05, England 83.36

Draw – Australia 83.68, England 84.74

England win by 15 points or less – Australia 82.68, England 85.74

England win by more than 15 points – Australia 82.05, England 86.36

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 (8) 80.58 v SCOTLAND (7) 81.80

Argentina win by 15 points or less – Argentina 81.40, Scotland 80.98

Argentina win by more than 15 points – Argentina 81.81, Scotland 80.57

Draw – Argentina 80.40, Scotland 81.98

Scotland win by 15 points or less – Argentina 79.40, Scotland 82.98

Scotland win by more than 15 points – Argentina 78.81, Scotland 83.57

CANADA (21) 61.80 v BELGIUM (27) 56.18

Canada win by 15 points or less – Canada 61.94, Belgium 56.04

Canada win by more than 15 points – Canada 62.01, Belgium 55.97

Draw – Canada 60.94, Belgium 57.04

Belgium win by 15 points or less – Canada 59.94, Belgium 58.04

Belgium win by more than 15 points – Canada 59.01, Belgium 58.97

WORLD RUGBY PACIFIC NATIONS CUP – SATURDAY, 2 JULY

FIJI (11) 76.62 v TONGA (16) 67.72

Fiji win by 15 points or less – Fiji 76.62, Tonga 67.72 (No change)

Fiji win by more than 15 points – Fiji 76.62, Tonga 67.72 (No change)

Draw: Fiji 75.62, Tonga 68.72

Tonga win by 15 points or less – Fiji 74.62, Tonga 69.72

Tonga win by more than 15 points – Fiji 73.62, Tonga 70.72

 

CURRENT WORLD RANKINGS