This Saturday could be a monumental day in World Rugby rankings as the All Blacks face off against the Springboks at FNB Stadium. A win for New Zealand not only secures them a 2-1 lead in the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series but also catapults them back to the top spot. This potential shift would be historic, marking the first time the number one spot has changed hands three consecutive weeks since the rankings' inception in 2003.
The All Blacks have reasons to be confident heading into the clash, having triumphed in both their previous outings at this venue, with scores of 29-22 in 2010 and 32-16 in 2012. On the other hand, a victory for the Springboks would not just reinforce their position at the top but could widen the points gap significantly depending on the winning margin.
"It's all about execution on match day," said one of the coaches. "We know the history, but every game is a new challenge."
"We are focused solely on Saturday's game; the rankings will sort themselves out."
A win with less than a 15-point margin keeps the Boks barely ahead, increasing their lead by 2.43 points, whereas a more decisive victory would boost this to 3.38 points. Conversely, if the All Blacks manage to surpass the 15-point win margin, they would lead by 2.62 points. Even a draw would allow the Boks to keep their pinnacle rank, albeit with a slight dip by 0.05 points.
Regardless of the outcome, these two titans of rugby will remain at the top two spots when heading into the final Test of the series in Baltimore. The current World Rugby rankings have South Africa at the top with 93.39 points, closely followed by New Zealand with 92.85 points.
The top ten also includes Ireland, France, England, Scotland, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, and Wales. This high-stakes match not only determines leadership in the rankings but also sets the stage for the last showdown of this epic series.
As the rugby world watches, Saturday promises to be a crucial junction in this fierce rivalry. The impact of this game extends beyond national pride—it's about making history in the rugby annals.
