South Africa's place at the top of the World Rugby Rankings is under threat this Saturday when they face Argentina in Buenos Aires, with the All Blacks standing to claim top spot should Los Pumas pull off an upset.
The Springboks currently hold a 1.68-point buffer over New Zealand — 93.96 to 92.28 — but a defeat in Argentina would erode that advantage significantly. A loss by 15 points or fewer would drop South Africa to 91.96, leaving them roughly half a point below the All Blacks. A heavier defeat, by more than 15 points, would see the Boks fall to 90.96 — nearly 1.3 points adrift of New Zealand in second.
Crucially, a Springbok victory — by any margin — yields no ratings points, a consequence of the 10.83-point gap between the two nations. South Africa will therefore leave Buenos Aires either with their ranking intact or diminished.
For Argentina, the stakes are considerable in either direction. A win moves them above Scotland into sixth, and a victory by more than 15 points would also lift them above England into fifth. A defeat, however, leaves them rooted in seventh regardless of results elsewhere, as Australia cannot accumulate enough points from their match against Japan to overtake them.
New Zealand's midweek clash with the Stormers carries no rankings implications.