World Rugby has mapped out the ranking permutations heading into Round 3 of the Nations Championship — and Ireland have a route to the top spot if results fall their way. The linked piece lays out exactly what needs to happen for the Boks to be displaced.
The ranking scenarios that could unseat the Boks this weekend
Ireland can leapfrog the Boks in the world rankings this weekend — the linked breakdown details the exact permutations from Round 3 of the Nations Championship.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Boks look settled while rivals scramble to reinvent for 2027
Rich uses the Nations Championship opener to map the state of play in the global race to catch the Boks — covering England's crisis, the All Blacks' tactical reset under Rennie, Australia's growing threat, and Scotland's form ahead of Loftus.
Springboks vs England: Form, history and what the tape reveals ahead of Ellis Park
A five-match retrospective on the Springboks-England rivalry ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park, with Louw identifying the tactical patterns — scrum dominance, bench impact, early England leads — that have defined recent encounters.
Nations Championship: World Cup audition or squad-building exercise?
Erasmus has publicly downplayed the Nations Championship as a squad-building platform rather than a trophy hunt — but the Boks still open against England at Ellis Park with points to prove. The piece maps the competitive landscape heading into the first round, with travel burdens, injury lists, and new coaching appointments all shaping how seriously each nation is treating the inaugural edition.
Don't be fooled by England's Six Nations finish — this is a genuine test for the Boks
A well-argued warning against Bok fan overconfidence ahead of the Nations Championship opener — England's Six Nations implosion had clear context, their Paris performance suggests they're back, and the Boks' seasonal rust is a real variable. Erasmus's wariness is well-founded.