World Rugby rankings: What the All Blacks need to return to become world number one again
Springboks back Damian Willemse being tackled by All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea and the latest World Rugby rankings.
The top two ranked teams in the world collide at Ellis Park on Saturday as the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series commences.
Ellis Park has been the stage for many epic Springboks versus All Blacks encounters in years gone by and will fittingly be the venue for the first of four internationals between the two proud nations this year.
South Africa head into the showdown as the top-ranked team in the World Rugby rankings and will not only look to defend their fortress but also their number one ranking against New Zealand in Johannesburg.
World Rugby rankings permutations: Springboks v All Blacks
The All Blacks were last ranked as the top team in the world in September last year and will reclaim that mantle with a victory of any kind at Ellis Park.
In fact, they could hold a 1.82-point cushion when the two nations collide in Cape Town seven days later if Dave Rennie’s side beat the Boks by more than 15 points on the highveld.
Rassie Erasmus’ team will earn 0.83 rating points for a win over New Zealand and 1.25 rating points if they do so by more than 15 points. In the event of a stalemate, the Boks would lose 0.17 rating points, and the All Blacks would gain the same number.
Neither nation can fall out of the top two in defeat.
South Africa (1) 93.96 v New Zealand (2) 92.28
South Africa win by 15 points or less – South Africa 94.79, New Zealand 91.45
South Africa win by more than 15 points – South Africa 95.21, New Zealand 91.03
Draw – South Africa 93.79, New Zealand 92.45
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – South Africa 92.79, New Zealand 93.45
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – South Africa 92.21, New Zealand 94.03
Latest World Rugby rankings
1 South Africa 93.96
2 New Zealand 92.28
3 Ireland 88.08
4 France 87.43
5 England 85.68
6 Scotland 84.78
7 Argentina 83.13
8 Australia 82.67 (+0.58)
9 Fiji 78.00
10 Wales 76.38
11 Italy 76.30
12 Japan 75.36 (-0.58)
13 Georgia 73.94
14 USA 70.22
15 Portugal 69.39
16 Chile 66.94
17 Spain 66.83
18 Uruguay 65.75
19 Tonga 65.14
20 Samoa 64.73
