World Rankings Permutations: The All Blacks reign under threat from European trio
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A total of four nations could end the test weekend as the highest-ranked side in the World Rugby Rankings, two of them for the first time in history.
Here is how the Rankings stand heading into the weekend:
World Rugby, has provided a breakdown of the rankings permutations from the latest round of Rugby World Cup 2019 warm-up matches.
Australia & New Zealand
The only way New Zealand will hold onto top spot this weekend is if they beat Australia and England beat Wales by less that 15 points. Steve Hansen's chargers could end the weekend as low as third.
- New Zealand will lose the number one spot if Wales beat England
- The same applies if England win by more than 15 points, even if the All Blacks also do
- A draw in Auckland will see New Zealand drop below Ireland into third with England or Wales taking over top spot with victory
- New Zealand have only been ranked third for one week, back in November 2003 after losing to Australia in the RWC 2003 semi-finals
- New Zealand could drop as low as sixth if they lose by more than 15 points again and other results go against them
- Australia will swap places with South Africa if they draw and the Springboks lose
- This can also happen even if Australia lose by more than 15 points, providing South Africa lose as emphatically
- Australia could climb as high as third if they win by more than 15 points and England or Wales lose by the same margin
- The Wallabies cannot drop any lower than their present position of sixth in defeat
England & Wales
Both sides could end the weekend as the highest-ranked side with Wales needing a win while England needs a win by more than 15 points.
- Wales will top the rankings for the first time if they win, regardless of New Zealand's result
- England will also top the rankings for the first time in 15 years if they win by more than 15 points
- A draw in Cardiff would see Wales drop below Ireland
- Wales could slip to fifth if they lose by more than 15 points and Australia and South Africa win as emphatically
- England will swap places with South Africa if they lose and the Springboks win
South Africa & Argentina
The Springboks could reclaim fourth place but will need a favour from either Wales or England while Argentina could move back into the top 10.
- South Africa will reclaim fourth place if they win and England lose
- They will also climb to fourth if they win and Wales lose by more than 15 points
- Argentina will return to ninth in victory, having fallen out of the top 10 last weekend
- If France also lose to Scotland, they will climb to eighth – the same applies if Scotland lose by more than 15 points and Argentina win by the same margin
France & Scotland
France and Scotland could trade places in the ranking depending on the result.
- France and Scotland will swap places if Les Bleus win
- France will fall to ninth if they lose and Argentina beat South Africa
- Scotland could also drop to ninth if they lose by more than 15 points and Argentina win by the same margin
- Scotland cannot climb any higher than their present position of seventh
Italy & Russia
Russia could move two places while Italy look set to retain their ranking unless they lose.
- An Italy victory will have no impact on the rankings
- A draw will see Italy fall two to 15th and Russia climb above Uruguay
- Russia will climb two places with a first-ever victory over the Azzurri with Italy falling two or three places depending on the margin
- Italy will fall to their lowest ever ranking of 16th if lose by more than 15 points
As for Ireland, the number-crunching shows that draws in Cardiff and Auckland, or an Australian win, would be enough for them to assume the number one ranking for the first time without even taking to the field.
CREDIT: World Rugby
