Boks' No 1 ranking is secure for another week

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the men's internationals played across Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas this weekend.

Permutation highlights

• South Africa cannot gain any rating points for a second win over Italy due to the 15.01 points difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.

• With New Zealand able to boost their rating by up to 0.74 points if they beat France by more than 15 points, the Springboks’ advantage at the top could be cut to just 1.06 points by the end of the weekend.

• Ireland, in third, are also unable to boost their rating due to the 23.39-point gap that exists between themselves and hosts Portugal.

• Ireland will be leapfrogged by France if Les Bleus win their second test with the All Blacks.

• New Zealand will drop to fourth if they are beaten and Ireland are victorious in Portugal.

• England can only improve on fifth place if they beat Argentina by a similar margin to the one they achieved in winning 35-12 in Buenos Aires last weekend, and Ireland suffer a shock defeat at the hands of Portugal.

• It is not possible for Los Pumas to reclaim fifth place even if they beat England by more than 15 points.

• Scotland enter the Test arena for the first time in July knowing that a win over Fiji, combined with a draw or a defeat for Argentina, will result in them moving above Los Pumas into sixth.

• Argentina will fall to eighth in this scenario, also falling below Australia who are not in action ahead of the British & Irish Lions Test series beginning on 19 July.

• Fiji will move up to eighth if they beat Scotland by more than 15 points, with their visitors to Suva dropping two to ninth and replaced in seventh by Australia.

• If Italy defy the formbook and overturn last week’s defeat at the hands of the Springboks, they will move up to ninth – but only if Fiji don’t win.

• Japan will remain in 12th place in victory , as even a win by more than 15 points against Wales will still leave them slightly adrift of Georgia in 11th.

• Having slipped to their lowest-ever ranking of 14th on the back of a 24-19 defeat, Wales have a chance of redemption in this weekend’s return fixture.

• A draw will move Wales above Samoa into 13th, while a win will see them restored to 12th and Japan drop to 14th.

• USA cannot improve on 15th place but a big win for them and a 19th consecutive Test defeat for Wales could reduce the gap between the two teams to just 1.08 points.

• Uruguay will move up one place if they beat Romania and other results fall their way, while Chile’s historic position in the top 20 will be short-lived if Romania come out on top in Montevideo.

• A win for Canada against Belgium could lead to them gaining two places, although this is also dependent on other results and margin of victory.

• Belgium will replace recent Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers Hong Kong China in 22nd if they beat Canada for the first time, which is one place off their all-time best.

• Namibia need to beat Algeria by more than 15 points in the first Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 semi-final and hope that Canada lose to Belgium by the same margin, to improve on 25th.

• Namibia are the highest-ranked team still in with a chance of winning the African title but Zimbabwe will take that mantle from them if they beat Kenya by more than 15 points and the Welwitschias’ winning margin is smaller.

• In this case, the teams will swap places, with Zimbabwe the best-placed of the two teams in 25th. Add in a defeat for Canada, and Zimbabwe will climb an additional place to 24th if they reach the final in style.

• This would put the Sables at their highest-ever position in the rankings.

• Algeria are already at an all-time high of 54th and will set a new benchmark if they beat Namibia and reach a second consecutive final, potentially moving up by as many as 14 places to 40th.

• Alternatively, Namibia will equal their lowest-ever position of 29th if they are soundly beaten.

• For fellow semi-finalists Kenya, a place in the top 30 is theirs for the taking if they win their match with Zimbabwe by more than 15 points.

• Meanwhile, Uganda need to beat Morocco by more than 15 points to climb above their opponents.

• Morocco, once ranked as high as 19th in the world, are currently languishing in 39th place. But a win this weekend could see them move up the rankings by as many as three places.

• Former Rugby World Cup participants Ivory Coast are also well below their historic rankings best of 38th. But a win over Senegal could see them recover as many as three lost places.

• Senegal will remain in 52nd unless they win big and Algeria lose to Namibia.

Match officials

• Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) referees Fiji v Scotland for the first time with the visitors having won their last four meetings with O'Keeffe in the middle.

• Luke Pearce (England) takes charge of Japan v Wales for the first time in what will be only his second match involving the Brave Blossoms on home soil. Wales have lost their last three with Pearce as referee.

• Christophe Ridley (England) will referee New Zealand for the first time when they take on France, who drew their only previous match with the official in charge.

• Andrew Brace (Ireland) will take charge of South Africa v Italy for the first time. He refereed Italy's win over Namibia a fortnight ago, while South Africa have won five of six Tests with Brace in the middle.

• Luc Ramos (France) will referee Argentina v England for the first time with both teams yet to lose with the Frenchman in charge.

• Adam Leal (England) referees Ireland for the first time when take on Portugal, a side who lost their only previous Test with Leal in the middle.

• Craig Evans (Wales) will take charge of Uruguay v Romania for the first time in what is his first Test in Montevideo.

• Morné Ferreira (South Africa) referees USA for the first time when they take on Spain in Charlotte. Spain lost their only previous Test with the South African in the middle.

• Gonzalo De Achaval (Argentina) will take charge of Canada and Belgium for the first time in what is his second Test as a referee.