World Rankings: What needs to happen for All Blacks to sink to new depths

As if a record 43-10 defeat at the hands of the Springboks wasn’t bad enough, things could get worse for Scott Robertson’s men if they don’t turn things around against Australia in Auckland this Saturday.

Having spent four weeks at number one in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings during The Rugby Championship, the All Blacks are currently third heading into the latest Bledisloe Cup encounter.

However, they will drop below England and fall to a record-equalling low of fifth if they are beaten for the first time in 10 matches by the Wallabies. The last time the All Blacks were as low as that was at the end of August 2022.

A defeat by more than 15 points will see the Wallabies become the higher-ranked of the two sides and put New Zealand at their lowest-ever position of sixth.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

5

Draws

0

Wins

0

Average Points scored

30

20

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

If an emphatic victory for the Wallabies is combined with a win for Los Pumas in South Africa, the All Blacks will drop a further place to seventh, unthinkably placing them outside of the first pot of seeds for Rugby World Cup 2027.

Fifth place is within Australia’s reach this weekend, which would represent a massive turnaround in their fortunes in the past year.

A win for the All Blacks would not lead to any improvement in their ranking, as the most they stand to gain is 0.26 points, and they head into the weekend two places and 0.73 points in arrears of Ireland in second.

Ireland could find themselves number one despite not taking to the field this weekend, as a Springboks loss would see their rating fall below that of the Irish.

South Africa currently have a 1.79-point lead at the top of the rankings, but that will not increase this weekend, as they won’t be awarded any points for beating the Pumas at Kings Park due to home advantage and the sizeable gap between the teams in the rankings.

Argentina are too far behind England to claim fifth place off Steve Borthwick’s side, even if they win well in Durban.