Wallabies, Ireland battle for third

All the World Rugby ranking permutations for this weekend's Test matches.

With 0.62 of a rating point separating them from their hosts, the Wallabies could regain third position behind the All Blacks and Springboks if they defeat Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. But if Ireland stretch their winning run to three matches – following victories over the Boks and Georgia – and England outgun Samoa at Twickenham, the Aussies will match their lowest ranking of fifth.

Wales can overtake France in sixth with any form of a win over the All Blacks and could even find themselves in fifth place if they secure an unlikely win by more than 15 points and England slump to a similar defeat against Samoa. Les Bleus would then remain in their current position, while England would slide to seventh.

Scotland can't improve their rating, but will face a fired-up Tonga, who could rise four places from 12th to eighth if they surprise the Scots by 15 points or more and all of Argentina, Samoa and Japan lose their respective matches. 

An emphatic victory for the Springboks over Italy and a win for Georgia against Japan, willl see the Azzurri drop to a record low 15th.

Pending other results, Japan would leapfrog Argentina into ninth spot if they beat Georgia and Fiji can edge Tonga in 12th if they overcome the USA. 

World Rugby rankings:

1. New Zealand 93.70
2. South Africa 89.93
3. Ireland 84.84
4. Australia 84.82
5. England 84.21
6. France 81.47
7. Wales 79.94
8. Scotland 78.27
9. Argentina 76.42
10. Japan 76.07
11. Samoa 75.39
12. Tonga 74.62
13. Fiji 74.18
14. Italy 71.19
15. Georgia 69.40
Full rankings
How the rankings work

Photo: Ian Walton/GettyImages

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