World rankings: Springboks and All Blacks have a chance to go top

By SABC Sport
25th August 2023

Both the Springboks and the All Blacks have a chance to take over from Ireland at the top of the world rankings this weekend, although the Boks have a much harder task.

An All Blacks victory of more than 15 points over the Springboks at Twickenham on Friday will see them leapfrog Andy Farrell's men at the summit, irrespective of what the Irish do against Samoa.

Due to the gap between them and the Pacific Islanders, Ireland cannot earn anything from a win in Bayonne this weekend.

Should the Irish succumb to a shock defeat to Samoa, the Boks also have the opportunity to move to the top if they win by more than 15 points against Ian Foster's charges.

But they will settle for any margin of victory over their great rivals as that will see them take New Zealand's place in second, with their opponents dropping down to third.

Meanwhile, France cannot earn anything from their game against Australia, but they can rise into the top three if a triumph over the Wallabies is combined with a South African defeat on Friday night.

There is also plenty on the line for Scotland as they can't make up any positions but Gregor Towsend's side can drop down two places if they succumb to Georgia and England and Australia both claim wins.

However, the Red Rose will only overtake the Scots if the margin of victory in one of the games is more than 15 points, while the Wallabies could rise to fifth if they beat Les Bleus and other results go their way.

Steve Borthwick's men have endured a torrid time recently, with bans for Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell and the World Cup-ending injury to Anthony Watson, but it could get worse.

A defeat to Fiji might see them drop to a record low of ninth, providing Australia and Argentina also emerge victorious this weekend.

The Red Rose's despair would be the Fijians' gain, with Simon Raiwalui's charges having the opportunity to move up to sixth.

Claiming a triumph at Twickenham would confirm a record high of seventh, but they will go up one more position if Australia go down to France.

Finally, Georgia can get into the top 10 for the very first time if they beat Scotland by more than 15 points. As a result, that would leave Wales in their lowest-ever position of 11th.