The latest World Rugby rankings permutations for the November Tests have been calculated and the All Blacks could potentially to ahead of South Africa and Ireland.
After a 13-month long stay at the top of the rankings, the Springboks recently conceded the No 1 spot to Ireland (promoted by default) following a shock one-point loss to Los Pumas in Argentina.
So by the conclusion of this season’s Rugby Championship campaign, Ireland led the way in the rankings with 92.12 ratings points, followed by South Africa on 91.77 and New Zealand on 88.70.
France (86.96) and Ireland (85.40) complete the list of the top five-ranked Test teams.
But with the end-of-year tours to Europe looming for the southern hemisphere teams, the rankings are set for a shock shake-up by the time this year’s Test fixtures are completed.
TEST RUGBY FIXTURES AND RANKINGS IMPACT
Springboks
The Springboks have three tough Tests schedule for their end-of-year tour.
First up is Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 10 November, followed by a showdown against the old enemy England at Twickenham in London a week later on 17 November.
The South Africans will then cap off their international campaign and bid for the first-place rankings finish with clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 23 November.
Ireland
The Irish have four Tests scheduled across November, all at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
In a clash of the titans and rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, Ireland will host the All Blacks on 8 November. The result of this game will play a pivotal role in how the rankings shape up.
They then face ever-improving Argentina on Friday, 13 November, followed by Tests against Fiji (23 November) and Australia (30 November).
All Blacks
Out of the three nations vying for that No 1 rankings spot, the All Blacks have the busiest November schedule.
Their fixture list consist of five away Tests, starting off against Japan in Yokohama on 26 October.
And as November rolls around, they will take on England at Twickenham on the 3rd, Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on the 8th, France in Paris on the 17th before rounding off the season against Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin.
How the rankings could change
- If Springboks record a perfect tour with three wins from as many Tests and Ireland also manage to make it four from four wins, then Rassie Erasmus’ world champions will jump back to the top of the rankings table.
- If Ireland lose at least one game and the All Blacks and Springboks are unbeaten, the Irish will sink to No 3, while the two southern hemisphere Test sides will both move one place up in the rankings (South Africa to first place and New Zealand to second).
- If both the Springboks and Ireland lose at least one of their matches and the All Blacks win all their Tests, New Zealand will jump two places to No 1, South Africa will remain ranked No 3 and the Irish will get demoted to No 3.
WHICH TEAM DO YOU THINK IS DESERVING OF THE NO 1 SPOT?
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AS IT STANDS: WHO’S RANKED WHERE AT THE MOMENT
