World Rugby rankings: The fresh incentive driving the Springboks while teams vie for World Cup boost
South Africa may well be in command at the top of the World Rugby rankings, but their game against Ireland will likely determine how big that lead is going to be heading into 2026.
Of course, successive defeats at the end of this November series will see Rassie Erasmus’ men replaced at the summit but it is difficult to see Wales upsetting the applecart next weekend.
The Springboks therefore seem set to remain in the lead going into 2026, but this weekend will tell us how big it will be.
At the moment, they are almost three points ahead of the All Blacks, who cannot get any closer due to playing the 12th placed Welsh in Cardiff.
England are just behind those two in third and could move slightly nearer to New Zealand with a victory over Argentina at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Sunday.
The unthinkable
However, should the unthinkable happen and both the English and Kiwis succumb this weekend then the Boks could have a six-point advantage with a win in Dublin, with Argentina moving up to second place.
The story will be different if Andy Farrell’s men are triumphant at the Aviva Stadium, however. A win of any kind would bring Erasmus’ side much closer to the pack, while a success of more than 15 points would reduce it to less than one ranking point.
It would also take Ireland above England and the All Blacks into second given that neither of them could get above the 90.53 Farrell’s team would be on if should they hammer the Springboks.
World Rugby rankings: Springboks open up unassailable lead, England go third and dramatic weekend impacts World Cup draw
What is for certain is that those four sides are guaranteed to be top seeds ahead of the Rugby World Cup draw at the start of December, while Argentina have also joined them.
Los Pumas may well be in sixth place behind France, but they cannot go lower than that due to the clash between Les Bleus and the Wallabies.
Even if England were to hammer the South American side on Sunday, there is no result in the match in Paris that will see them slip out of the top-six.
WALES (12) 74.24 v NEW ZEALAND (2) 90.33
Wales win by 15 points or less – Wales 76.24, New Zealand 88.33
Wales win by more than 15 points – Wales 77.24, New Zealand 87.33
Draw – Wales 75.24, New Zealand 89.33
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – Wales 74.24, New Zealand 90.33 (No change)
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – Wales 74.24, New Zealand 90.33 (No change)
IRELAND (4) 88.85 v SOUTH AFRICA (1) 93.06
Ireland win by 15 points or less – Ireland 89.97, South Africa 91.94
Ireland win by more than 15 points – Ireland 90.53, South Africa 91.38
Draw – Ireland 88.97, South Africa 92.94
South Africa win by 15 points or less – Ireland 87.97, South Africa 93.94
South Africa win by more than 15 points – Ireland 87.53, South Africa 94.38
FRANCE (5) 87.07 v AUSTRALIA (7) 81.69
France win by 15 points or less – France 87.24, Australia 81.53
France win by more than 15 points – France 87.32, Australia 81.45
Draw – France 86.24, Australia 82.53
Australia win by 15 points or less – France 85.24, Australia 83.53
Australia win by more than 15 points – France 84.32, Australia 84.45
ITALY (10) 78.99 v CHILE (18) 66.72
Italy win by 15 points or less – Italy 78.99, Chile 66.72 (No change)
Italy win by more than 15 points – Italy 78.99, Chile 66.72 (No change)
Draw – Italy 77.98, Chile 67.72
Chile win by 15 points or less – Italy 76.98, Chile 68.72
Chile win by more than 15 points – Italy 75.98, Chile 69.72
SCOTLAND (9) 80.22 v TONGA (19) 66.66
Scotland win by 15 points or less – Scotland 80.22, Tonga 66.66 (No change)
Scotland win by more than 15 points – Scotland 80.22, Tonga 66.66 (No change)
Draw – Scotland 79.22, Tonga 67.66
Tonga win by 15 points or less – Scotland 78.22, Tonga 68.66
Tonga win by more than 15 points – Scotland 77.22, Tonga 69.66
ENGLAND (3) 89.09 v ARGENTINA (6) 85.30
England win by 15 points or less – England 89.41, Argentina 84.97
England win by more than 15 points – England 89.57, Argentina 84.81
Draw – England 88.41, Argentina 85.97
Argentina win by 15 points or less – England 87.40, Argentina 86.97
Argentina win by more than 15 points – England 86.57, Argentina 87.81
World Rugby rankings
As of 21/11/2025
1 South Africa 93.06
2 New Zealand 90.33
3 England 89.09
4 Ireland 88.85
5 France 87.07
6 Argentina 85.30
7 Australia 81.69
8 Fiji 81.03
9 Scotland 80.22
10 Italy 78.98
11 Georgia 74.69
12 Wales 74.23
13 Japan 72.58
14 Spain 69.12
15 Uruguay 68.52
16 USA 68.26
17 Samoa 66.94
18 Chile 66.72
19 Tonga 66.66
20 Portugal 64.89
READ MORE: Ireland v Springboks prediction: Rassie Erasmus’ ‘trump card’ tipped to eclipse Andy Farrell’s ‘back in sync’ Irish
