World Rugby published the ranking permutations for the final round of The Rugby Championship 2024 and other international matches in Europe, Africa and South America this weekend. The Springboks will have to wait until November before they get a chance to reclaim their place at the top of the world rankings.
South Africa is unable to reclaim the top spot in the rankings as victory over Argentina in Nelspruit will not have any impact on their rating due to the 7.47 points difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
However, they also cannot fall from second place because New Zealand are also unable to improve their rating with a victory over Australia. The All Blacks’ current rating is 9.38 points better than Australia’s before home weighting is factored in.
However, defeat in the second Bledisloe Cup encounter will see the All Blacks drop one place to fourth with France the beneficiaries.
New Zealand can equal their all-time low of fifth if they lose and Argentina go back-to-back against South Africa, although only if one of the margins is by more than 15 points.
Australia will jump two places to eighth if they avoid defeat against New Zealand in Wellington.
Victory for Argentina will be enough to lift them above England into fifth place with France also overhauled if they win by more than 15 points.
Argentina could climb to third, for the first time since June 2008, if they win by that margin and Australia beat New Zealand. This would equal their all-time high.