Bok Women ready to step out of the shadows and into the world's top 10

When the World Rugby Women’s Rankings were first introduced in February 2016, the Springbok Women were ranked 12th with a rating of 68.51 points. Fast forward to now, and very little has changed; they remain in the same position, with a marginally smaller rating (68.04 points).

For the past five and a half years, the Springbok Women’s world ranking has consistently been between 11th and 13th. During that time, there have been opportunities to break into the top 10 for the first time, but none have been taken.

However, Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool D match against Italy presents them with another chance to smash through the glass ceiling.

A blank weekend in The Rugby Championship gives South Africa’s women a free run at making all the headlines if they can get the right result in York. So what do they need to do?

South Africa will enter the top 10 for the first time if they beat Italy – something which they have failed to do in three previous meetings – as long as there are no further upsets in favour of teams near to them in the rankings.

Last year’s WXV 2 clash in Cape Town was the closest match of the lot, the Azzurre squeezing home 23-19 thanks to two penalties from Michela Sillari in the final 15 minutes.

A South Africa win by more than 15 points this weekend would make them the higher-ranked of the two nations for the first time, with Italy potentially plummeting to an all-time low of 12th.

On paper, there is one match that looks closer to call in the second round of fixtures, with just two places and 4.26 points separating Australia in seventh from the USA in ninth. Those sides also meet in York, but on Saturday, not Sunday.

A ranking of fifth is possible for the USA this weekend, but it would take a combination of events for this to happen.

The Women’s Eagles would need to win by more than 15 points, Ireland to lose to Spain, and Scotland to fail to beat Fiji. This would equal the USA’s highest-ever position, which they last occupied ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2021.

Australia can regain sixth place from Scotland even if Bryan Easson’s team beats Fiji, but the margin of victory would have to be more than 15 points.

England, Canada, New Zealand, France, Ireland and Scotland – the top six in the rankings – are unable to improve their rating by beating a lower-ranked opponent this weekend.

This weekend’s rankings match-ups by points differential

1. France vs Brazil (39.86)
2. England vs Samoa (38.04)
3. Canada vs Wales (20.00)
4. New Zealand vs Japan (19.92)
5. Scotland vs Fiji (17.37)
6. Ireland vs Spain (15.51)
7. Italy vs South Africa (7.94)
8. USA vs Australia (4.26)