Springboks could surrender top spot as All Blacks risk an all-time equal low and history awaits Argentina in world rankings
The Springboks and All Blacks could fall down the world rankings in defeat this weekend.
South Africa will surrender top spot in the World Rugby rankings if the Springboks fail to defeat Australia in the second round of the Rugby Championship.
Rassie Erasmus has gambled making 10 changes to his starting XV for the clash in Perth after the 33-7 victory over Australia in Brisbane.
That decision could prove costly not only in their pursuit of winning the Rugby Championship but also in the world rankings if the changed Springboks team does not defeat the Wallabies.
World Rankings permutations
Anything less than a victory over Joe Schmidt’s charges will see South Africa be replaced by Ireland at the top of the pile.
A draw will result in Ireland taking the top ranking by just 0.01 rating points. While stalemates are rare in international rugby, the Springboks and Wallabies have drawn three times in their history, doing so twice in 2017.
If Erasmus’ charges do claim back-to-back victories over Australia, they will not improve their rating due to the 14.15 rating points between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
In the event that the Wallabies do defeat the Springboks, Australia will climb above Italy into eighth place.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks cannot leapfrog Ireland into second spot in the world rankings even if they defeat Argentina by more than 15 points. New Zealand will earn 0.34 rating points with a big victory over Los Pumas.
However, back-to-back defeats to Argentina for the first time would see the All Blacks slip down to fourth in the rankings with France the beneficiaries.
A Los Pumas win would also end New Zealand’s incredible winning streak at Eden Park that stretches back to 1996. A win by more than 15 points would also lift Los Pumas above New Zealand into fourth.
The last time Argentina were ranked fourth was during the 2015 Rugby World Cup and fifth would equal New Zealand’s lowest-ever ranking – a position they occupied on two separate occasions in August 2022.
World Rugby rankings as of 16 August 2024
1 South Africa 93.11
2 Ireland 92.12
3 New Zealand 88.37
4 France 86.96
5 England 85.40
6 Argentina 83.64
7 Scotland 82.82
8 Italy 79.98
9 Australia 78.96
10 Fiji 77.44
11 Wales 76.04
12 Georgia 74.10
13 Samoa 73.65
14 Japan 71.63
15 Portugal 70.61
16 Tonga 68.66
17 Uruguay 67.39
18 Spain 66.29
19 USA 66.01
20 Romania 62.62