The Rugby Championship And World Rankings

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for round two of The Rugby Championship 2023 this weekend. 

Permutation highlights:

• New Zealand must win by more than 15 points to replace France in second place.
• A win by such a margin would see New Zealand cut Ireland’s lead at the top to 1.19 points.
• South Africa cannot fall from fourth place in defeat as they would still have a cushion of at least 5.26 rating points over Scotland below.
• If South Africa can avoid defeat in Auckland they will swap places with the All Blacks to become the higher-ranked of the two nations in third.
• Argentina and Australia will also trade places if Los Pumas come away from Parramatta with a win in the other Rugby Championship match this weekend.
• A win by a margin of more than 15 points would see Los Pumas also climb above England into sixth position, their highest position since November last year.
• Australia will climb one place to sixth – swapping places with England – with any margin of victory over Argentina.
• England haven’t been as low as seventh since February 2016, at the start of Eddie Jones’ reign as head coach.
• Argentina cannot fall any lower than their present position of eighth as they have a large enough advantage over Wales.