World Rugby rankings: The only possible change that could happen before Springboks v All Blacks
Australia host Japan in Townsville on Saturday.
There is just one international fixture on the schedule this weekend that will impact the World Rugby men’s rankings as the Wallabies and Japan lock horns once again.
Australia were triumphant 35-32 in Osaka last weekend in a high-scoring match and it is predicted to be a similar points tally at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The Wallabies have won all of their previous fixtures at the Townsville venue, both against Argentina – 27-8 in 2021 and 28-24 in 2025 – and enter this as favourites.
However, writing off the Brave Blossoms would be a bold move as they came agonisingly close to victory on home soil and may well feel they have unfinished business.
Permutations
In terms of the World Rugby men’s rankings permutations, it isn’t possible for Australia to improve on their current ranking of eighth, while Japan‘s place in the top 12 is safe even if they are well beaten. This is because Australia can only pick up a maximum of 0.58 rating points for victory.
A draw is good enough to take Japan back into the world’s top 10, regaining the two places they lost after the 35-32 loss in Osaka last weekend.
The Brave Blossoms will replace Fiji in ninth if they win by more than 15 points.
Paul Williams will take charge of this fixture for the second time, having overseen Australia’s 32-23 victory in Oita in October 2021.
Australia have a W4, D2, L5 record in the 11 matches they’ve played with Williams as referee, winning the most recent – 28-24 over Argentina at this venue in the 2025 Rugby Championship. Their two other wins also came on Australian soil, beating Samoa 34-15 in a 2019 World Cup warm-up match in Parramatta and South Africa, 25-17 in Adelaide in the 2022 Rugby Championship.
Japan are on a two-match winning run with Williams in the middle after losing the first two Tests he refereed them.
Both wins have come in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, beating Samoa 49-27 in the 2024 semi-final and Canada 57-15 in the 2025 pool stage.
This will be Williams’ second Test of the year, having been in the middle for Argentina’s 35-21 Nations Championship victory over Wales in San Juan in July.
Japan remain winless against the Wallabies in the eight matches they have played since 1975, losing all of those by an average score of 46-20. Australia’s biggest win in that period came in 2007 when they prevailed 91-3.
Australia (8) 82.09 v Japan (12) 75.94
Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 82.47, Japan 75.56
Australia win by more than 15 points – Australia 82.67, Japan 75.36
Draw – Australia 81.47, Japan 76.56
Japan win by 15 points or less – Australia 80.47, Japan 77.56
Japan win by more than 15 points – Australia 79.67, Japan 78.36
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Men’s 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 82.09
9 Fiji 78.00
10 Wales 76.38
11 Italy 76.30
12 Japan 75.94
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