The Weekend's World Rankings Permutations

France could climb to their equal highest-ever World Rugby Ranking this weekend while Wales could drop to eighth place.

Second place in the World Rugby rankings is on the line this weekend with France could go ahead of New Zealand with a victory over Wales on Friday evening.

Les Bleus will need to beat Wales by more than 15 points to climb above New Zealand. They last sat second on 8 October 2007

However, defeat for France will see them drop below whoever emerges victorious between England and Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. If France draw then England or Ireland must win by more than 15 points to go to third. 

A victory for France would see them retain third place.

As for their opponents on Friday, Wales must beat France by more than 15 points to climb above Australia into sixth place while defeat will see them fall one place if they lose and Scotland are victorious in Italy

If Italy break their Six Nations drought and beat Scotland they cannot climb from 14th unless Georgia are beaten in Romania. This would lift Italy one place at Georgia’s expense

The Azzurri will not fall from 14th even if beaten by more than 15 points. Scotland will drop one place to ninth if beaten by Italy in Rome with Argentina the beneficiaries.

England will drop below Ireland if they lose at Twickenham but can fall no lower than fifth. Ireland also cannot fall from fifth even if beaten by more than 15 points

Outside of the Six Nations, Romania will climb above Tonga if they beat Georgia and can go as high as 15th depending on margin and the outcome of Spain v Portugal. However, defeat will see them fall two places if in tandem with a Spain loss at home.

Georgia have already qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 but must win by more than 15 points to climb above Samoa into 12th.

Portugal will jump five places to a new high of 15th if they beat Spain and Romania lose to Georgia with Los Leones dropping two to 17th in this scenario. Fifteenth is still possible even if Romania win, depending on the victory margin in both matches.

Portugal cannot fall from 20th place even if they lose by more than 15 points to Spain.

Spain cannot improve on 15th place in victory and will drop below Tonga if held to a draw by their Iberian neighbours with Portugal jumping above USA and Uruguay.

Spain will fall between two and four places in defeat, depending on the margin and the outcome of Georgia v Romania. Switzerland will jump four or five places if they beat the higher-ranked Belgium depending on the margin
Belgium cannot fall from 27th place even if beaten by more than 15 points.

Belgium will climb above the Netherlands with victory and condemn Switzerland to a one-place fall.