World Rugby Rankings Permutations

There could be plenty of movement in the World Rugby Rankings after this weekend's second round of The Rugby Championship.

The Springboks head to Wellington in a replay of the clash from last year were the Springboks picked up a 34-36 victory over the All Blacks.

A big victory for the Springboks this time round could see New Zealand lose top place in the world rankings, a position they have held since 16 November 2009.

If this were to happen, Wales could occupy top spot for the first time since the rankings were introduced while Fiji and Japan could both equal their highest ever rankings this weekend.

Here are all the ranking permutations ahead of the weekend's test matches via World Rugby.

The Rugby Championship

NEW ZEALAND (1) 92.54 v SOUTH AFRICA (5) 85.30

• New Zealand win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 92.54, South Africa 85.30 (no change)
• New Zealand win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 92.54, South Africa 85.30 (no change)
• Draw – New Zealand 91.54, South Africa 86.30 South Africa win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 90.54, South Africa 87.30 South Africa win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 89.54, South Africa 88.30
• The sides will meet again at Rugby World Cup 2019 on 21 September
• New Zealand will surrender top spot to Wales if lose by more than 15 points
• New Zealand cannot improve their rating with victory over the Springboks
• The All Blacks need six points to be the first to score 16,000 points in test rugby
• The Springboks cannot fall from fifth even if lose heavily and Australia win by similar margin

AUSTRALIA (6) 81.68 v ARGENTINA (10) 77.05

• Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 81.91, Argentina 76.81
• Australia win by 15 points or more – Australia 82.03, Argentina 76.69
• Draw – Australia 80.91, Argentina 77.81
• Argentina win by 15 points or less – Australia 79.91, Argentina 78.81
• Argentina win by more than 15 points – Australia 79.03, Argentina 79.69
• Australia cannot improve position with win but will drop below Scotland with loss
• If they lose by more than 15 points and Fiji beat Japan by the same margin, the Wallabies will drop to 10th and be ranked below Fiji for the first time
• Argentina have lost their last six tests since beating Australia 23-19 in Robina last year
• Los Pumas will climb one place if they win and Fiji lose their Pacific Nations Cup encounter with Japan in Kamaishi
• Argentina could climb as high as seventh – a position they last held in August 2017

World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup

TONGA (13) 73.02 v SAMOA (16) 68.78

• Tonga win by 15 points or less – Tonga 73.89, Samoa 67.90
• Tonga win by more than 15 points – Tonga 74.33, Samoa 67.46
• Draw – Tonga 72.89, Samoa 68.90
• Samoa win by 15 points or less – Tonga 71.89, Samoa 69.90
• Samoa win by more than 15 points – Tonga 71.33, Samoa 70.46
• Tonga have won the last two meetings between the sides – Samoa had won 15 of the previous 19 matches
• Tonga can only climb a place if they win by more than 15 points and Japan lose by the same margin
• Samoa will swap places with Spain below in defeat to equal their lowest ever position
• Samoa can only climb if they win and USA lose to Canada at home
• Tonga will drop below Italy in defeat and also USA if they lose by more than 15 points and the Eagles win against Canada

FIJI (9) 77.95 v JAPAN (11) 75.24

• Fiji win by 15 points or less – Fiji 78.98, Japan 74.21
• Fiji win by more than 15 points – Fiji 79.49, Japan 73.70
• Draw – Fiji 77.98, Japan 75.21
• Japan win by 15 points or less – Fiji 76.98, Japan 76.21
• Japan win by more than 15 points – Fiji 76.49, Japan 76.70
• Fiji will climb above France into eighth if win by more than 15 points, equalling their highest ever position achieved after beating Les Bleus last November
• Fiji can fall as low as 11th depending on margin and Australia v Argentina outcome
• Japan will fall one or two places in defeat, depending on margin and outcome of Tonga v Samoa match
• On the flip side Japan could equal their highest ever ranking of ninth if win by more than 15 points and Argentina lose by same margin

USA (15) 71.71 v CANADA (21) 61.36

• USA win by 15 points or less – USA 71.71, Canada 61.36 (no change)
• USA win by more than 15 points – USA 71.71, Canada 61.36 (no change)
• Draw – USA 70.71, Canada 62.36
• Canada win by 15 points or less – USA 69.71, Canada 63.36
• Canada win by more than 15 points – USA 68.71, Canada 64.36
• USA have won nine of last 10 matches (one draw) with Canada
• Canada’s last win was 13-11 in Toronto on 24 August, 2013
• A USA victory will have no impact on the ratings of either side
• Canada would still trail Russia above by 0.45 points with win by more than 15 points