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The World Rugby rankings permutations as top side face record fall
It’s all the play for this weekend on the World Rugby rankings table, with all eyes on Paris as current No.1s Ireland take on South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis this Saturday in a truly titanic clash in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup.
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The outcome of this showdown could potentially reshape the World Rugby rankings, with Ireland defending their coveted number-one spot against the surging Springboks.
Ireland, who have enjoyed a 14-month reign at the top of the rankings, will lose the top spot should the Springboks emerge victorious.
Ireland’s reign would not only come to an end, but they would likely drop to the third position, displaced by a resurgent France side should Les Bleus beat Namibia in Pool A.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
3
Average Points scored
16
22
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
80%
Even if France, as the hosts of Rugby World Cup 2023, secure a win over Namibia in their Pool A encounter in Marseille, they will not be able to enhance their rating due to the substantial 28.98 rating points that separate the two teams.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Ireland. A draw against South Africa would allow them to retain their top-ranking, albeit with a slim margin of just 0.09 rating points. Conversely, if Ireland manages to secure a win by a margin exceeding 15 points, they could extend their lead over South Africa by as much as 6.05 rating points.
The rankings drama doesn’t end there. If France are handed an improbable defeat, they could potentially drop below New Zealand, who aren’t in action this weekend, falling to the fourth spot. However, it’s worth noting that France’s lowest possible position remains fourth.
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In other matches, England and Scotland would maintain their rankings with victories over Chile and Tonga, respectively, as their ratings significantly outpace those of their opponents.
Rugby World Cup
Pool A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Italy
2
2
0
0
10
2
France
2
2
0
0
8
3
New Zealand
2
1
1
0
5
4
Uruguay
2
0
2
0
0
5
Namibia
2
0
2
0
0
Pool B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
2
2
0
0
10
2
South Africa
2
2
0
0
9
3
Scotland
1
0
1
0
0
4
Tonga
1
0
1
0
0
5
Romania
2
0
2
0
0
Pool C
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Wales
2
2
0
0
10
2
Fiji
2
1
1
0
6
3
Australia
2
1
1
0
6
4
Georgia
1
0
1
0
0
5
Portugal
1
0
1
0
0
Pool D
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
England
2
2
0
0
9
2
Samoa
1
1
0
0
5
3
Japan
2
1
1
0
5
4
Argentina
1
0
1
0
0
5
Chile
2
0
2
0
0
Should Wales and Australia play to a draw, their Pool C rivals Fiji will ascend one spot, matching their highest-ever ranking at seventh, at the expense of the Welsh. Fiji’s potential for further gains hinges on the outcomes of other matches, including potential upsets involving England and Scotland.
Australia faces the possibility of plummeting to a new low of 10th place if they falter against Wales and Argentina secures a victory against Samoa. Conversely, a win for the Wallabies, combined with unexpected losses for England and Scotland, could see them climb as high as fifth in the rankings.
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In the lower ranks, Samoa’s fate is also up in the air, with the potential to rise to ninth if they win but to drop to 13th if they suffer defeat against Argentina. Portugal and Georgia, too, are set to engage in a rankings tussle, with Portugal seeking to surpass their rivals for the first time in nearly two decades.
With the Rugby World Cup 2023 in full swing, fans across the globe are glued to their screens, eagerly watching how the rankings may shift by the end of this exhilarating weekend of rugby action. The battle for supremacy is on, and the rugby world is poised for thrilling twists and turns on the path to glory.
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to comments