World Rugby rankings: How Springboks and All Blacks could plummet in pivotal weekend for World Cup seedings
Springboks forward Jasper Wiese and the latest World Rugby Rankings.
The last round of the Rugby Championship could result in one final shake-up to the top ten in the World Rugby rankings before the November Internationals.
South Africa tops the rankings and the Rugby Championship table heading into the final weekend of action, but a heavy defeat to Argentina could see them relinquish their number one ranking and their TRC title.
The All Blacks may have retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year and remain in the running for the TRC, a tournament New Zealand has dominated over the years, but face a Wallabies outfit who are also in the running for their first Rugby Championship gong since 2015.
Los Pumas are the only team out of the running for the title, but the clash at Allianz Stadium, Tickenham in London is still an all-important one for Felipe Contepomi and his men, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw fast approaching.
Weekend’s permutations and World Cup draw
Earlier this week, World Rugby announced that the draw for the 2027 World Cup in Australia will take place on 3 December 2025, where all 24 qualified teams will discover their pool stage opponents.
With the draw just around the corner, this weekend’s action is particularly important for the likes of Argentina and Australia, with the latter currently set to be included in the second band of teams because of their 7th-placed position on the world rankings.
The bands for the draw will be used to create the four bands of six teams, and while some catch is possible during the November internationals, the two nations will be eager to strengthen their position before then.
For the Springboks, a defeat to Argentina could see them remain at the top of the rankings, provided that they don’t lose by more than 15 points or New Zealand beats Australia by the same margin.
These scenarios would see a third change at the top during The Rugby Championship 2025, with the All Blacks and Springboks swapping places again, dropping the world champions to third. South Africa did not gain any ranking points for their comprehensive victory over the Pumas in Durban last weekend, but they are able to this week, with the match in London deemed as a home game for Argentina.
If this isn’t Rassie Erasmus’ ‘strongest’ Springboks team, what is?
If Rassie Erasmus’ charges claim another victory by more than 15 points, South Africa can extend their lead at the top to 2.66 points over Ireland. However, New Zealand can move into second position, but they would need to beat the Wallabies by 15 points more to do so. South Africa will be replaced at number one by Ireland if they lose by more than 15 points and the Bledisloe Cup match in Perth ends in a draw.
A win over the Boks would see Argentina retain sixth place in the rankings regardless of the result in Perth on Saturday. However, they cannot catch England in fifth even with an emphatic victory. A loss for Argentina paired with a Wallabies win will see the two nations switch positions, with the latter moving into sixth.
Australia cannot slip from seventh this weekend even if beaten heavily at home.
As for the All Blacks, Scott Robertson’s men could slip as low as 5th if they fall to a defeat by more than 15 points.
AUSTRALIA (7) 83.67 v NEW ZEALAND (3) 89.28
Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 84.93, New Zealand 88.02
Australia win by more than 15 points – Australia 85.56, New Zealand 87.39
Draw – Australia 83.93, New Zealand 89.02
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – Australia 82.93, New Zealand 90.02
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – Australia 82.56, New Zealand 90.39
ARGENTINA (6) 84.40 v SOUTH AFRICA (1) 91.62
Argentina win by 15 points or less – Argentina 85.82, South Africa 90.20
Argentina win by more than 15 points – Argentina 86.53, South Africa 89.49
Draw – Argentina 84.82, South Africa 91.20
South Africa win by 15 points or less – Argentina 83.82, South Africa 92.20
South Africa win by more than 15 points – Argentina 83.53, South Africa 92.49
Latest World Rugby rankings
As of 3/10/2025
1 South Africa 91.62
2 Ireland 89.83
3 New Zealand 89.28
4 France 87.82
5 England 87.64
6 Argentina 84.40
7 Australia 83.67
8 Scotland 81.57
9 Fiji 81.16
10 Italy 77.77
11 Georgia 74.69
12 Wales 74.05
13 Japan 73.61
14 Spain 69.12
15 USA 67.40
16 Samoa 66.94
17 Chile 66.72
18 Tonga 66.66
19 Uruguay 66.59
20 Portugal 66.44
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