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Springboks' No.1 ranking on the line as Greatest Rivalry series opens at Ellis Park

South Africa's world No.1 ranking is on the line when the Springboks host the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday in the opening Test of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series. New Zealand, currently 1.68 points adrift at No.2, reclaim top spot with any winning margin.

South Africa head into Saturday's inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test at Ellis Park as the world's top-ranked side, with their No.1 status directly at stake against New Zealand.

The All Blacks, currently second on 92.28 points to the Boks' 93.96, last held the top ranking in September last year. A victory of any margin on Saturday restores them to that position. Should they win by more than 15 points, they would carry a 1.82-point buffer into the Cape Town Test the following weekend.

For the Springboks, a win of 15 points or fewer yields 0.83 rating points, moving them to 94.79. A winning margin beyond 15 points pushes that to 95.21. A draw costs South Africa 0.17 points. Neither side can drop out of the top two regardless of the result.

Ireland remain third at 88.08, with France fourth at 87.43 and England fifth at 85.68. Australia climb to eighth at 82.67 following a gain of 0.58 points, while Japan drop to 12th on 75.36.

Sources

Planet Rugbyhttps://www.planetrugby.com/news/world-rugby-rankings-how-springboks-v-all-blacks-could-impact-the-standings

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