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Springboks' world number one ranking on the line as Greatest Rivalry series opens at Ellis Park

South Africa's world number one ranking is at stake when they host New Zealand in the first of four Greatest Rivalry Tests at Ellis Park on Saturday, with the All Blacks needing any victory to return to the top of the World Rugby rankings.

South Africa enter Saturday's inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park as world number one, currently holding a 1.68-point lead over the All Blacks in the World Rugby rankings — 93.96 to 92.28.

New Zealand, who last held the top ranking in September, need only a win of any margin to reclaim it. A victory by more than 15 points would give them a 1.82-point cushion heading into the Cape Town fixture the following weekend.

For the Springboks, a win of 15 points or fewer yields 0.83 rating points; winning by more than 15 adds 1.25. A draw costs South Africa 0.17 points. Neither side can drop out of the top two regardless of the result.

Ireland (88.08) remain third, followed by France (87.43) and England (85.68). Australia are the only side to move in the latest update, climbing 0.58 points to 82.67 and eighth, with Japan dropping the same amount to 75.36 in twelfth.

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