Ireland can’t catch Boks
Ireland cannot supplant the Springboks at the top of the World Rugby rankings in the 2025 Six Nations, even if they go on to claim a Grand Slam.
The second-ranked Irish are 1.42 points behind the Boks, with matches against France in Dublin and Italy in Rome to come in this year’s tournament.
Ireland can reduce that gap to 0.88 by hammering France by more than 15 points, but won’t receive any ranking points for beating Italy, who are ranked 10th, no matter the margin.
A heavy defeat for Ireland this Saturday would see them drop to fourth with France climbing to third and the All Blacks to second.
Sixth-ranked England and seventh-ranked Scotland cannot improve on their rankings this weekend with wins against Italy and 12th-placed Wales respectively.
The Azzurri would climb two places in the unlikely case that they beat England by more than 15 points, while a win for Wales – to end a 15-match losing streak – would take them above Georgia to 11th and see Scotland drop to eighth or 10th depending on their margin of defeat.
World Rugby rankings
1. South Africa 92.78
2. Ireland 91.36
3. New Zealand 90.36
4. France. 87.86
5. Argentina 84.97
6. England 84.26
7. Scotland 82.36
8. Australia 81.52
9. Fiji 80.07
10. Italy 78.00
11. Georgia 74.69
12. Wales 73.75
