South Africa will lose top spot in the World Rugby Rankings if they fail to beat Italy and New Zealand beat Scotland. The Boks currently sit first on 93.09 points, with the All Blacks second on 92.27 — a gap narrow enough that a New Zealand win combined with a Springbok defeat would hand the No.1 ranking back across the Tasman.
The potential shake-up extends across the top 10. France, currently fourth on 87.43, will climb above Ireland into third if they beat Fiji and Argentina beat Ireland in Dublin. However, Les Bleus could fall as low as eighth — their lowest since October 2019 — if beaten, depending on margin and other results. Ireland would drop to fifth if both France and England win.
Scotland and Australia both have a mathematical path to third place if they cause upsets and other results align — a new high for Scotland and Australia's best position since November 2021. England, meanwhile, could slide three places to eighth if Argentina win by more than 15 points and England suffer a comparable defeat to Australia on Sunday.
Japan, currently 12th on 76.23 and separated from Wales and Italy by fractions, will overtake both if they beat Wales and Italy do not upset South Africa — a result that could lift them back into the top 10.
In the World Rugby Nations Cup, Canada can return to the top 20 for the first time since February 2019 with a win over Georgia, subject to other results. Chile can reach a new ranking high of 14th by beating Portugal. Samoa face the prospect of dropping out of the top 20 for the first time since the rankings system launched in October 2003 if they lose to Zimbabwe and Romania beat Tonga. Romania can re-enter the top 20 — having last appeared there in June 2025 — by beating Tonga by more than 15 points.