Springboks x All Blacks
South African players look on as T J Perenara leads the All Black Haka during Round 6 of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa's Springboks and New Zealand's All Blacks at CBus Stadiumon on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 02 October 2021. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

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Should Springboks be worried about World Rugby rankings?

Increasingly, it appears that the Springboks will be heading into the 2023 World Cup as underdogs. Perhaps they will prefer it that way, but the World Rugby rankings certainly don’t make for pretty reading at the moment. As it stands, following on from last weekend’s woeful defeat against the All Blacks, there are now more than […]

By Craig Lewis
17-07-23 13:01
in Featured
Springboks x All Blacks
South African players look on as T J Perenara leads the All Black Haka during Round 6 of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa's Springboks and New Zealand's All Blacks at CBus Stadiumon on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 02 October 2021. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Increasingly, it appears that the Springboks will be heading into the 2023 World Cup as underdogs. Perhaps they will prefer it that way, but the World Rugby rankings certainly don’t make for pretty reading at the moment.

As it stands, following on from last weekend’s woeful defeat against the All Blacks, there are now more than three rankings points that separate No 1-ranked Ireland and South Africa.

ALSO READ: Rassie makes honest referee admission after Springboks loss

Don’t forget that the Springboks enjoyed some hegemony at the top of these standings between 2019 and 2021, but there has been a downward slide since then, while the likes of France and Ireland having made immense progress at the same time.

France are more than two points ahead of the Springboks as well, and there’s little doubt that Les Bleus and Ireland will be the favourites at the World Cup.

The All Blacks also do now look deserving of their third place in the rankings, and are nearly two points ahead of the Boks.

ALSO READ: Player ratings — Who fired, who flopped for Springboks

South Africa are well ahead of fifth-placed Scotland, but they will be wary of a team that they face in the World Cup pool stages, and that certainly has the potential to cause a surprise or two.

There are still four games to go before the Springboks begin their world title defence, and while they may be slightly frustrated to be seen as the fourth best team in the current game, it won’t be cause for much conversation or concern within the team camp.

The Springboks are looking to execute a very specific player management plan ahead of the World Cup, and they will be very clear on what areas they simply have to work on in order to return to winning ways – and potentially move up the rankings to some degree before the global showpiece.

ALSO READ: Springboks boss pinpoints where it all went wrong in humbling defeat to All Blacks

WHERE THE SPRINGBOKS SIT IN THE TOP 10 OF THE LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS

Rank Team Points
1 Ireland 91.82
2 France 90.47
3 New Zealand 90.32
4 South Africa 88.34
5 Scotland 82.77
6 England 82.12
7 Argentina 81.49
8 Australia 80.32
9 Wales 78.08
10 Japan 77.39

ALSO READ: Five Springboks likely to be dropped for next Test

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