Damian de Allende of the Springboks breaks past Tomos Williams of Wales before scoring his team’s first try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on October 27, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
World Rugby Rankings: RWC winners guaranteed top spot
Either the Springboks or England will top the World Rugby Rankings after the Rugby World Cup final with the victor claiming the spoils.
Damian de Allende of the Springboks breaks past Tomos Williams of Wales before scoring his team’s first try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on October 27, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The team that wins the Rugby World Cup final between England and the Springboks in Yokohama will claim the top spot on World Rugby’s Rankings.
England are currently in possession of top spot. They returned to the summit for the first time since June 2004 after booking their third Rugby World Cup final with a dominant 19-7 triumph over the All Blacks last weekend.
The Springboks could make England’s time at the top the briefest of possible reigns if they continue the trend of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy every 12 years.
South Africa have not topped the rankings since 16 November 2009 – the day the All Blacks replaced them and began an epic 509-week reign as the number one ranked team.
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The Boks and Roses can record their highest ever ratings in victory, although England would have to win by more than 15 points to break their 94.00 tally set back in March 2004.
The same is true of Wales. If Warren Gatland’s side beat New Zealand by a 15-point margin or more in the bronze final, they will take their rating above 90 points for the first time since the rankings were introduced in October 2003, and move into second place on Friday evening.
A Welsh win – their first over the All Blacks since December 1953 – would not only secure their first bronze medal since the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, but would also condemn New Zealand to their lowest ever rating and position of fourth.
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The All Blacks will return to second place if they make it 31 wins in a row against Wales, but would need England to be crowned world champions or South Africa to triumph by more than 15 points to retain that place after the curtain comes down on RWC 2019.
During the Rugby World Cup the rankings points exchanged are double those on the line in normal Test matches.
World Rugby Rankings
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