Second chance Saturday for Springboks to reclaim No.1 world ranking

Having narrowly failed to break New Zealand’s unbeaten record at Eden Park, South Africa get a second chance to beat the All Blacks this Saturday and return to the top of the world rankings.

Last weekend’s bruising 24-17 defeat saw the Springboks surrender second place in the rankings to Ireland, but they will jump two places to number one if they win the rematch at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. A draw will be enough for them to be restored to second.

If beaten, New Zealand will drop from first to second, or third if the margin is more than 15 points.

Otherwise, a second win over the Springboks in as many weeks will increase the All Blacks’ advantage at the top of the rankings to at least 2.02 points, with another quarter of a point gained if the winning margin blows out to more than 15 points.

Australia remained in sixth place after their last-gasp 28-24 win over Argentina in round three of The Rugby Championship, which would see them placed in the top pot of seeds for the RWC 2027 draw later this year if they continue to maintain that position from now until December.

However, Los Pumas will snatch sixth place off them if they win the next meeting in Sydney this Saturday.

In the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, the USA are in danger of not only failing to qualify for RWC 2027 via the competition but also falling to their joint-lowest ranking.

Currently 19th after last week’s defeat to Japan, the Men’s Eagles will slip a further place to 20th if they lose the fifth-place play-off with Samoa by more than 15 points. The last time that the USA were as low as that in the rankings was in 2008.

However, a much-needed win for the Men’s Eagles will lift them two places to 17th.

Reigning champions Fiji are up against Tonga and 2024 runners-up Japan take on Canada in the two semi-finals. Neither Fiji nor Japan can improve their current positions and will remain in ninth and 13th, respectively, if they win.

A shock win for Canada over Fiji will result in a two-place rise to 22nd, with the North Americans overtaking RWC 2027 hopefuls Belgium and fellow qualifiers Hong Kong China in the process.

Tonga need to beat Japan by more than 15 points to leapfrog Spain and move up to 15th.

Current World Rankings Top 10

1. New Zealand – 91.35
2. Ireland – 89.83
3. South Africa – 89.38
4. France – 87.82
5. England – 87.64
6. Australia – 85.40
7. Argentina – 82.84
8. Scotland – 81.57
9. Fiji – 80.86
10. Italy – 77.77