The Springboks are ending the year exactly where they started: at the top of the World Rugby rankings! Their impressive 24-13 victory over Ireland solidified their position, earning them valuable ranking points and extending their lead.
All Blacks Win, But No Points!
While the All Blacks secured a dominant 52-26 win against Wales, the victory didn't translate into ranking points due to the significant points difference between the two teams beforehand. Home weighting also played a factor.
Wales Climbs Despite Defeat!
Surprisingly, Wales moved *up* in the rankings despite their heavy loss to New Zealand! This is thanks to Japan's narrow 25-23 victory over Georgia. This result sees Wales climb to 11th, Japan to 12th, and Georgia dropping to 13th.
France and Australia Hold Steady
France and Australia maintained their fifth and seventh positions respectively, even though France secured a 48-33 win, earning them a small 0.16 ranking points.
2027 Rugby World Cup Implications
Japan's win secured them a Band 2 placing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw. Samoa also secured their place at the tournament after a draw with Belgium, although this result saw them drop two places in the rankings.
What's Next?
New Zealand is guaranteed to hold onto second place even if England defeats Argentina. However, Sunday's matches will determine the final placements of the Band 1 nations. If Argentina manages to upset England, Ireland will move into third place.
Boks Unbeatable at the Top!
Even a loss of more than 15 points to Ireland in Dublin wouldn't be enough to dethrone the Springboks. They're staying at number one! The Springboks, All Blacks, England, Ireland, and Argentina are also confirmed to remain in Band 1 ahead of the 2027 World Cup draw on December 3rd. The Springboks could potentially increase their lead at the top to as much as 6.57 points if New Zealand and England suffer heavy losses.
Other Key Ranking Movements:
- Georgia needs to avoid defeat against Japan to secure a Band 2 place for the World Cup draw.
- England could move to second if they beat Argentina and New Zealand and Ireland lose.
- France could drop to seventh if they lose to Australia by more than 15 points.