Six Nations Teams Chase Springboks in World Rugby Rankings
The Six Nations tournament is set to begin on Thursday night, featuring a significant clash between France and Ireland. This match could influence the World Rugby rankings, currently led by the Springboks. The Springboks maintain a 3.61-point lead over second-placed New Zealand, followed closely by England, Ireland, and France.
World Rugby Rankings Overview
The standings in the World Rugby rankings present several implications leading into the Six Nations. Here’s a breakdown of the current rankings:
| Rank | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 93.94 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 90.33 |
| 3 | England | 89.41 |
| 4 | Ireland | 87.97 |
| 5 | France | 87.24 |
| 6 | Argentina | 84.97 |
| 7 | Australia | 81.53 |
| 8 | Fiji | 81.14 |
| 9 | Scotland | 80.22 |
| 10 | Italy | 78.98 |
Potential Outcomes and Implications
During the first round of the Six Nations, various scenarios could reshape the rankings:
- England can’t raise its ranking with a win over Wales due to a significant points gap.
- An Ireland victory over France by more than 15 points could elevate Ireland above England.
- A loss for England by over 15 points, coupled with a France win, could drop England to fifth place.
- If victorious, France is guaranteed to surpass Ireland in the rankings.
Upcoming Matches
The opening round includes key matchups that are essential for the rankings:
- France vs Ireland
Thursday, February 5, 22:10 SAST - Italy vs Scotland
Saturday, February 7, 16:10 SAST - England vs Wales
Saturday, February 7, 18:40 SAST
Other Rankings Considerations
In other competitions, Georgia defends its Rugby Europe Men’s Championship title as the top-ranked team at 13th place. They will face Switzerland, a match they are expected to dominate. This competition heavily influences minor ranking shifts for teams positioned lower on the table. Romania will seek to gain points against Germany, but with limited potential for substantial ranking changes.
In summary, the Six Nations presents a critical opportunity for teams to advance in the World Rugby rankings, especially as teams look to close the gap with the leading Springboks. Filmogaz.com will provide updates as the tournament progresses and impacts the World Rugby rankings landscape.
