The Springboks currently find themselves in a position where they cannot improve their rankings points due to the fact they are playing sides significantly lower than them in the rankings, namely Italy and Georgia, in the two remaining July internationals.
However, with the second-placed All Blacks facing fourth-placed France, the Springboks’ arch-rivals do have an opportunity to continue eating into the Springboks’ rankings lead – especially considering that Les Bleus have brought a weakened squad to New Zealand.
Just this past weekend, the All Blacks did improve their tally by 0.62 points after picking up a hard-fought victory over France, and there is now just 1.8 points separating South Africa and New Zealand at the top of the rankings.
The All Blacks will be favourites to pick up a couple more wins over France in two more Tests between the sides in July, and so there is every chance that there could be very little separating the Springboks and New Zealand in the rankings by the time the Rugby Championship begins.
LATEST RANKINGS AS ALL BLACKS MOVE IN ON SPRINGBOKS
1 South Africa |
92.78 |
| 2 New Zealand | 90.98 |
| 3 Ireland | 89.83 |
| 4 France | 88.90 |
| 5 England | 86.72 |
| 6 Argentina | 82.98 |
| 7 Scotland | 82.36 |
| 8 Australia | 82.08 |
| 9 Fiji | 79.52 |
| 10 Italy | 77.77 |
