The Springboks' reign at the top of the World Rugby rankings is under serious threat this weekend! With a full schedule of international matches ahead, every game carries significant weight, potentially reshuffling the entire leaderboard. Let's dive into the permutations.
Springboks vs. Italy: Upset Alert?
Rassie Erasmus's Springboks face Italy at Loftus Versfeld, marking their first official Test of the year. Despite being heavily favored, a defeat against the Azzurri could cost them their number one ranking. The Boks currently hold 92.78 rating points, a slim 2.42-point lead over the All Blacks. A loss, only the second ever against Italy, would see them dethroned.
Who Could Take the Crown?
If South Africa stumbles, the victor of the New Zealand vs. France clash would seize the top spot. However, even a historic win for Italy in South Africa might not improve their ranking unless Fiji loses to Australia by a significant margin (over 15 points). In that scenario, Italy could climb to ninth, pushing Australia to tenth.
No Reward for Victory?
Interestingly, a Springboks victory against Italy won't improve their rating points due to the disparity in rankings. The same applies to Ireland against Georgia.
All Blacks Under Pressure
France, fielding an inexperienced squad in New Zealand, could inflict a double ranking fall on the All Blacks with an upset victory, potentially dropping them to fourth place. The stakes are incredibly high across the board this weekend. Keep your eyes glued to the action!