How the final round of the Rugby Championship can impact the World Rankings

World Rugby have published the ranking permutations ahead of the final round of the Rugby Championship.

South Africa could fall as low as fifth in the rankings but cannot move above France while the remaining three sides can all improve their current ranking. 

New Zealand can only improve their rating by a maximum of 0.08 rating points with victory over Australia by more than 15 points.

The All Blacks they can return to third if they win and South Africa are beaten by Argentina with the sides swapping places.

Ian Foster's charges will drop below England into fifth for the third time this year if beaten, equalling their lowest ever position since the rankings began in October 2003.

Meanwhile, Australia will climb back above Wales into eighth with a draw in Auckland, a win would lift Australia at least two places to seventh – with sixth possible if Los Pumas also fail to beat South Africa.

It will be a tough task though as New Zealand have won their last 22 meetings with Australia at Eden Park. The last time Australia tasted victory at the stadium was in September, 1986.

South Africa cannot improve their rating with victory over Argentina due to the 7.79 rating points between the teams before home weighting is factored in.

The Springboks can fall as low as fifth if they lose by more than 15 points and New Zealand are victorious against Australia. Argentina will climb above Scotland and Wales if they draw with South Africa.

WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS EXPLAINER

The men’s and women’s World Rugby Rankings powered by Capgemini are calculated using a points exchange system, in which sides take points off each other based on the match result.

Whatever one side gains, the other loses.

The exchanges are based on the match result, the relative strength of each team and the margin of victory (15 points or less / more than 15 points), and there is an allowance for home advantage.

Any match that is not a full international between two World Rugby full member unions does not count towards the rankings, e.g. the British and Irish Lions test against Japan. 

The Current World Rankings