The latest World Rugby rankings permutations show that regardless of what happens in this weekend's opening round of the Rugby Championship, the World Champion Springboks will remain the number one team in the world.
Round one of the Rugby Championship kicks off with New Zealand hosting Australia at Eden Park, followed by South Africa hosting Argentina in Port Elizabeth.
While ranked in second place, even a big win over 5th place Australia will not be enough for New Zealand to overtake the Springboks.
The World Champions, coming off a successful series with the British & Irish Lions, are guaranteed their place as number one even if they lose heavily to Argentina and New Zealand beat Australia by more than 15 points. If that were to occur, however, their lead would be cut to less than two points.
Victory for South Africa will not result in any points gained due to the 11.05 rating points between themselves and Argentina before home weighting is factored in.
Argentina, currently in 7th place, has a lot to gain should they win convincingly (by 15 or more), as they would move up to third place, their best ever position that they last held back in June 2008.
Australia will be the lowest ranked of the four Rugby Championship sides if they lose by more than 15 points, irrespective of how Argentina fare.
The All Blacks can only game a maximum of 0.19 rating points should they win.
RANKINGS EXPLANATION:
The men’s and women’s World Rugby Rankings are calculated using a points exchange system, in which sides take points off each other based on the match result.
Whatever one side gains, the other loses. The exchanges are based on the match result, the relative strength of each team and the margin of victory (15 points or less / more than 15 points), and there is an allowance for home advantage.
Any match that is not a full international between two World Rugby full member unions does not count towards the rankings, e.g. the British and Irish Lions test against Japan.
POINTS ALLOCATION DEPENDING ON RESULTS:
NEW ZEALAND (2) 89.10 v AUSTRALIA (6) 83.32
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 89.23, Australia 83.20
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 89.29, Australia 83.14
Draw – New Zealand 88.23, Australia 84.20
Australia win by 15 points or less – New Zealand 87.23, Australia 85.20
Australia win by more than 15 points – New Zealand 86.29, Australia 86.14
SOUTH AFRICA (1) 94.20 v ARGENTINA (7) 83.15
South Africa win by 15 points or less – South Africa 94.20, Argentina 83.15 (No change)
South Africa win by more than 15 points – South Africa 94.20, Argentina 83.15 (No change)
Draw – South Africa 93.20, Argentina 84.15
Argentina win by 15 points or less – South Africa 92.20, Argentina 85.15
Argentina win by more than 15 points – South Africa 91.20, Argentina 86.15
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