World Rugby rankings: All Blacks poised to overtake Springboks this weekend
The All Blacks can seize a golden opportunity to close the gap on the Springboks at the top of the World Rugby Rankings.
The Springboks could drop behind the All Blacks in the World Rugby rankings if current form continues.
The Springboks currently hold the top position in the latest World Rugby rankings, while their longtime rivals, the All Blacks, trail closely in second place.
SPRINGBOKS CANNOT ADD TO THEIR WORLD RANKINGS SCORE
The Springboks enter the Rugby Championship with 92.78 points.
However, Rassie Erasmus’s team cannot increase their points total in their opening match against Australia at Ellis Park. They lead Australia, who sit sixth in the world rankings, by too wide a margin, so no victory margin can widen the gap at the top.
This gives the All Blacks a prime chance to close in on the Springboks.
New Zealand travels to Argentina for their opening Rugby Championship match, and if recent form continues, the All Blacks should claim a win. Argentina lost both of their July Tests to a weakened England side missing key players for the British & Irish Lions, although they had previously defeated the touring Lions.
A win by the All Blacks of 1 to 15 points would add 0.30 points to their current 92.06, raising them to 92.36—just 0.42 points behind South Africa.
A victory margin of 16 points or more would add 0.45 points, moving their total to 92.51, only 0.27 points behind the Springboks.
If the Springboks lose to Australia, any All Blacks victory would see New Zealand take the top spot in the world rankings.