With 2025 Six Nations Championship kicking off this week, the World Rugby Rankings are set for a reshuffle.

 As it stands, the Springboks, All Blacks, Ireland, France and Argentina are the top five-ranked Test nations in the world; while Scotland, England, Australia, Fiji and Italy complete the top 10.

But because the super powers of the southern hemisphere are only back in Test match action around mid-year, the Six Nations serves as a great platform for their northern rivals to boost their standings in the rankings and ultimately usurp them at the summit. 

With that in mind, here’s a more accurate list of permutations ahead of the opening round of the Championship.

RANKINGS PERMUTATIONS FOR 2025 SIX NATIONS (ROUND 1): Springboks untouchable at the top!

  • Ireland cannot improve their rating with victory over England because of the 8.47-point difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
  • However, if Ireland fail to beat England at the Aviva Stadium they will be replaced in second place in the rankings by New Zealand.
  • Ireland will drop a further place to fourth if they lose by more than 15 points and France beat Wales in the first game of the tournament on Friday, in which case France will move up to third.
  • France, just like Ireland, cannot improve their rating with victory this weekend as a result of the 14.50 points difference between themselves and Wales before home weighting is factored in.
  • Les Bleus cannot fall from fourth place even if they suffer a heavy loss at home to Wales.
  • Scotland can only gain a maximum of 0.35 rating for beating 10th-ranked Italy at Murrayfield, meaning England could jump two places to fifth if they beat defending Six Nations champions Ireland by more than 15 points.
  • Victory by a smaller margin would still lift England above Scotland into sixth place.
  • The outcome would be the same if both sides taste defeat in the opening round of the Six Nations 2025.
  • Italy, though, can boost their rating significantly and will become the higher-ranked of the two teams if they come away from Murrayfield with a convincing victory.
  • A win by more than 15 points would see the Azzurri equal their highest-ever ranking of eighth, while relegating Scotland to ninth.
  • Wales cannot improve on 11th place even if they beat France by more than 15 points in Saint-Denis, a scenario that would still leave them more than a point adrift of a beaten Italy.

CURRENT WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS

RANK COUNTRY POINTS
1 South Africa 92.78
2 Ireland 90.78
3 New Zealand 90.36
4 France 88.51
5 Argentina 84.97
6 Scotland 83.34
7 England 82.31
8 Australia 81.52
9 Fiji 80.07
10 Italy 78.64
11 Wales 74.01
12 Georgia 73.85
13 Japan 72.95
14 Samoa 72.68
15 USA 70.02
16 Portugal 68.82
17 Uruguay 67.06
18 Spain 65.98

WHO DO YOU THINK THE SPRINGBOKS WIIL RELINQUISH TOP SPOT IN 2025?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.

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The Springboks retained their top spot in the World Rugby rankings after beating the All Blacks at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. Image: SA Rugby website.

Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/world-rankings-can-springboks-lose-top-spot-this-weekend/