World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for this week's matches in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup 2024 and World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2024.
Permutation highlights
New Zealand cannot improve their rating with victory over USA in their first Test of the year due to the 17.99 points and eight places between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
If beaten, the Black Ferns are guaranteed to keep hold of second place as even a loss by more than 15 points would still leave them 0.29 points better off than France in third.
USA currently sit at their lowest-ever position of 10th but will jump three places to seventh – above Ireland, Italy and Wales – if they beat New Zealand for the first time since Women’s Rugby World Cup 1991.
Canada must beat Australia by more than 15 points in the other World Rugby Pacific Four Series match this weekend to climb above France into third place.
If that happens and USA stun the Black Ferns by the same margin then Canada would close to just 0.04 rating points of the world champions in second.
Australia are safe in fifth place regardless of the outcome of either game.
A win by more than 15 points for the Wallaroos, though, will see the deficit between themselves and Canada above cut to 1.16 rating points from the current 4.66 points.
South Africa cannot improve their rating by beating a Kenya side 17.63 points and 11 places worse off than them in 23rd.
The Springbok Women will slip below Spain in defeat with Kenya climbing above China to 22nd if they can upset the formbook.
Madagascar, fresh from a narrow win over Kenya in the opening round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2024, cannot improve on 26th place even with an emphatic victory over Cameroon.
However, Cameroon could move up by as many as three places, to 28th, if they win by more than 15 points, overtaking tournament hosts Madagascar in the process.
Victory by a lesser margin would still be enough for Cameroon to gain two places, leaving them one behind the Lady Makis in 29th.
South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar and Cameroon will play again on Sunday in the final round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2024.
Match officials
Adèle Robert (Belgium) takes charge of the South Africa v Kenya match in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup 2024 on Wednesday, the first time she has refereed the Springbok Women.
Mélissa Leboeuf (France) will referee a Test featuring African teams for the first time when she oversees Madagascar v Cameroon in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup 2024.
Julianne Zussman (Canada) takes charge of New Zealand v USA in the World Rugby Pacific Four Series for the third time, having been in the middle for the Black Ferns' wins in 2022 and 2023.
Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) makes her Pacific Four Series debut with the weekend's other match between Australia and Canada in Sydney. It will be the first time she referees both teams.
Officials for the final round of matches in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup will be confirmed after Wednesday's action.
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