World Rankings: Springbok defeat could cost top spot
· The South African
Despite making several team changes, the Springboks head into Saturday’s Test against Wales as overwhelming favourites at Kings Park.
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When looking at the world rankings, the Springboks are comfortably placed at the summit, while Wales dwell down in a lowly 12th place.
However, the Springboks have made it clear that they won’t be underestimating an improving Welsh team, and the rankings permutations should certainly provide an extra incentive to deliver an expected victory.
The Springboks would surrender top spot if they suffer a shock loss to Wales and New Zealand beat Ireland, providing one of the margins is by more than 15 points.
It is also possible for Ireland to climb to number one, but this would require South Africa to lose by more than 15 points and the Irish to win by the same margin.
Other ranking permutation highlights as the Springboks tackle Wales:
- South Africa and France cannot improve their rating with victory over the lower-ranked Wales and Japan respectively.
- Ireland will swap places with New Zealand if they become the first team to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1994.
- France could fall as low as sixth with defeat in Tokyo, while a return to the top 10 for the first time in three years is possible for Japan.
- Australia could drop out of the top 10 for the first time since the rankings began in October 2003 if they lose to Italy by more than 15 points and other results go against them.
- Italy will also surrender their place in the top 10 if beaten by that margin.
- Scotland, Argentina and England could all end the weekend in fourth place if France are beaten in Japan.
- Fiji will climb above a beaten Australia if they are able to claim a first Nations Championship victory against Scotland at Murrayfield.
- Wales cannot fall any lower than 12th this weekend as Georgia are unable to catch them, but a return to top 10 is possible for Steve Tandy’s men.
- Argentina and England will swap places if Los Pumas are able to taste victory in Santiago del Estero.
- Defeat for Romania against Samoa could see them drop to a new all-time low with Canada, Hong Kong China and Zimbabwe all able to climb above them with victories, depending on the margins involved.
- Hong Kong China and Chile can all secure or equal new all-time highs in the rankings if they beat the higher-ranked Uruguay and Georgia.
- Portugal, Chile, USA and Spain could all end the weekend in 14th place depending on results in the World Rugby Nations Cup across the Americas.
- Zimbabwe will become the higher-ranked of the two nations if they beat Canada and could reach a new high of 22nd depending on margin and Romania’s result.
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Full focus for Boks
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus may have named a vastly different team to the side that ran out against Scotland last week, but Malcolm Marx said their objective this weekend was to keep building as a team and to make a steady improvement each week.
“There’s always room for improvement regardless of how the game goes,” said Marx.
“The game of rugby is not perfect, and there will always be errors and mistakes. For us this week, it’s just about working on the small things that we felt we didn’t get right last week or in the previous two weeks, and trying to improve in those areas.
“We know how physical Wales can be and what a threat they are, so we are preparing as best we can and working on those one or two percenters to get better this weekend.”
The match kicks off at 17:40 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.