World Rankings Permutations: Major shake up on the cards

World Rugby has published the world ranking permutations for this weekend's Autumn Nations Series and Dubai internationals this weekend.

There is a major potential shake-up on the cards as Ireland's top ranking goes on the line. 

A win over Fiji will see Ireland retain top spot but anything less and France, New Zealand and South Africa could replace them as the top-placed side.

Ireland are unable to improve their rating due to the 15.79 points between them and Fiji but their cushion could shrink from 1.22 rating points to as little as 0.12 points.

If Fiji upset Ireland in Dublin, the winner of France v South Africa will go to the top of the rankings with Les Bleus going to number one in the rankings for just the second time, having briefly occupied top spot for a week in July.

If Ireland win and the Springboks defeat France, South Africa will still swap places with Les Bleus to occupy second spot.

The All Blacks could return to the top of the rankings for the first time since November 2021 with a victory over Scotland in tandem with an Ireland defeat and a draw between France and South Africa.

South Africa will regain the third place they lost last weekend to New Zealand even if both sides are beaten this weekend – a result of them losing to a higher-ranked team.

Moving to fifth place and England could fall as low as eighth if they lose to Jamie Joseph's Japan - defeat depending on the margin and other results. Japan will climb above a beaten Wales into ninth place if they win at Twickenham.

Scotland can jump two places to sixth if they beat New Zealand and Australia lose and Argentina fail to beat Wales in Cardiff. Australia could drop three places to a new low of 10th in defeat if they lose by more than 15 points and Scotland and Japan enjoy similarly big margins of victory against higher-ranked sides.

Wales must win by more than 15 points to be higher ranked than visitors Argentina. 

Italy and Georgia will both climb above a beaten Fiji if they taste victory against Australia and Samoa respectively. Samoa will climb above Georgia if they avoid defeat in Tbilisi and could jump three places to 11th if they win and Fiji and Italy are both beaten.

Romania will climb one place to 16th – swapping places with Spain – if both teams are victorious against Uruguay and Namibia respectively. Uruguay will become the higher ranked of the two nations if they avoid defeat in Bucharest and could climb as high as 15th depending on other results.

The Latest World Rankings