South Africa and New Zealand’s place on the high of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings is assured no matter what drama unfolds in the fourth spherical of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, which begins tonight in Dublin with Ireland up in opposition to Wales.
Third-placed Ireland can’t enhance their score with a win over a Welsh aspect languishing 9 locations decrease than them in the rankings, so it’s as much as France to attempt and eat into the hole between the highest two and the chasing pack.
Les Bleus will regain third place off Ireland in the event that they beat Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, with the potential to shut the hole on the All Blacks to a single level. To try this, France should win by greater than 15 factors.
Scotland will slide two locations, again under Australia and Fiji, in the event that they turn out to be the fourth crew to lose to France this championship, with one other place misplaced if Italy create historical past with a first-ever victory over England.
A document seventh place is inside Italy’s attain, however provided that they beat England by greater than 15 factors and Scotland lose at residence to France.
Defeat for England in Rome will end result in them dropping under Argentina to sixth. However, if the margin is greater than 15 factors and is matched by a Scotland win of the identical magnitude, England may even slip under their Calcutta Cup rivals.
England can solely enhance on fifth place in the event that they beat Italy and Ireland lose by greater than 15 factors at residence to Wales, a situation that lifts them a spot to fourth.
Wales will climb again above Japan into eleventh in the event that they keep away from defeat in Dublin. They will stay in twelfth in the event that they undergo a fifteenth consecutive Six Nations loss as a result of Thirteenth-placed Georgia can’t enhance their score with a win over Romania this weekend.
Unlike Georgia, the seven different groups collaborating in the semi-finals weekend can enhance their score, and for Spain, there’s a possibility to match their earlier greatest rankings place of 14th. To try this, they should beat Portugal in the opposite Rugby Europe Championship semi-final.
World Rugby Rankings Top 12:
1 South Africa 93.94
2 New Zealand 90.33
3 Ireland 88.89
4 France 88.40
5 England 85.62
6 Argentina 84.97
7 Scotland 81.71
8 Australia 81.53
9 Fiji 81.14
10 Italy 79.81
11 Japan 74.09
12 Wales 73.62
