World Rugby Men's Rankings preview: 23-25 August, 2024

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the opening round of Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 this weekend.

• Samoa will break back into the top 10 of the rankings for the first time since July 2023 if they beat Fiji by more than 15 points in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 opener in Suva.
• The one week Samoa spent there at the end of that month remains the only time they have occupied a spot inside the top 10 since the end of Rugby World Cup 2015.
• Victory by a lesser margin – or a draw – would see them move up one place to 12th at the expense of Georgia.
• Fiji, meanwhile, will drop by a couple of places to 12th in the event of a heavy defeat.
• With less than half a point available to them in victory, Fiji are not able to catch any of the teams above them and will remain in 10th if they avoid defeat.
• Japan are in the same situation with no improvement on 14th place possible even if they beat hosts Canada by more than 15 points with only a gain of 0.49 rating points possible.
• The Brave Blossoms will slip below Portugal if beaten with Canada climbing above Romania into 20th place in victory.

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Match officials:

• James Doleman (New Zealand) will take charge of Fiji v Samoa for the first time, having previously been an assistant referee for Fiji’s 33-19 victory at Apia Park in July 2023. It will be his first time refereeing Samoa while he oversaw Fiji's 15-15 draw with Georgia in 2021.
• Eoghan Cross (Ireland) will take charge of both Canada and Japan for the first time in their Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup encounter in Vancouver. It will be his first test in the middle outside of the Rugby Europe Men's Championship.