Rankings: Springboks’ top spot coming under threat

The Springboks face Georgia this Saturday, but can’t improve their rankings rating this weekend due to the 18.09-point gap between themselves and their 11th-ranked opponents before home advantage is factored in.

This means that their cushion at the top could be cut to only 0.55 rating points over New Zealand if the All Blacks complete a series whitewash of France with a win by more than 15 points on Saturday.

Last weekend, the All Blacks claimed a resounding 43-17 over a weakened France team, and so there is every expectation that another comfortable victory could be on the cards in Hamilton.

Other permutations to note for this weekend’s fixtures:

• If Georgia can create history and avoid defeat against South Africa for the first time then New Zealand need a smaller margin of victory to replace South Africa at the summit.
• The All Blacks have not been ranked number one in the world since November 2021.
• With Ireland not in action this weekend, France have an opportunity to improve on fourth place, although to leapfrog both Ireland and New Zealand they must beat the All Blacks by more than 15 points.
• If that happens, the All Blacks will find themselves down in fourth.
• England, in fifth, cannot improve their rating with victory over USA, given the 19.19 point difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
• The good news is that a defeat will not cost them a position, as Australia face the British and Irish Lions in the first test – which does not count towards the rankings – and Argentina cannot gain any points for beating Uruguay.
• Scotland can only gain a maximum of 0.20 rating points for beating Samoa at Eden Park, not enough to catch Los Pumas even if they are beaten by Uruguay.
• Even though Fiji and Italy above them are not in action, Georgia cannot enter the top 10 for the first time even if they beat South Africa by more than 15 points as they will be 0.08 rating points short.
• However, if Scotland lose then Fiji will climb one place to eighth.   
• Samoa will gain one place if they beat Scotland, replacing Wales in 12th but cannot catch Georgia.
• Japan, who occupy 14th place, cannot be caught by any of their nearest rivals – Spain, USA and Uruguay – as they hold too big a cushion.

LATEST RANKINGS AS ALL BLACKS MOVE IN ON SPRINGBOKS

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