International rugby returns this weekend with the resumption of the Nations Championship and Nations Cup, with several matches carrying significant ranking implications.
The Springboks will remain top if they beat Italy, but cannot improve their points rating because of the 14.79-point gap between the teams.
However, a defeat could see them surrender first place to the All Blacks, provided the men in black avoid defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield.
South Africa would not fall below second place even if they suffer only their second-ever defeat to Italy. The Azzurri, meanwhile, could climb two places to ninth with a victory, moving ahead of Wales and a beaten Fiji.
Italy will remain 11th if they lose, although a victory for Japan over Wales in Cardiff would see the two teams swap positions.
The All Blacks have never lost to the Scots, but a historic Scottish victory could see Gregor Townsend's side climb as high as third in the rankings, depending on other results.
Scotland could also equal their all-time high of fifth if England draw with Australia on Sunday, while a rise to third would require Ireland, France and England all to lose.
France have plenty at stake in their clash with Fiji, with a victory potentially lifting them above Ireland into third if Argentina also beat Ireland in Dublin.
However, a defeat could see Les Bleus fall as low as eighth for the first time since October 2019, depending on the margin and other results.
Ireland could also drop two places to fifth if they lose to Argentina and France and England both win.
Australia have an outside chance of climbing to third with an upset victory over England, provided other results go their way. That would represent the Wallabies' highest ranking since November 2021.
England, meanwhile, could suffer a significant drop if they lose heavily at home. An Argentina victory by more than 15 points in Dublin, combined with an Australian win by a similar margin, could see England fall three places to eighth.
Wales can move up one place to ninth if they beat Japan by more than 15 points and Fiji lose to France.
World Rugby men's rankings (As of 06/11/2026)
1 South Africa 93.09
2 New Zealand 92.27
3 Ireland 88.08
4 France 87.43
5 England 85.68
6 Scotland 84.78
7 Australia 84.43
8 Argentina 82.24
9 Fiji 77.85
10 Wales 76.38
11 Italy 76.30
12 Japan 76.23
13 Georgia 73.94
14 Portugal 69.39
15 USA 67.58
16 Chile 66.94
17 Spain 66.83
18 Uruguay 65.75
19 Tonga 65.14
20 Samoa 64.73
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada believes Rassie Erasmus has shown his side great respect by selecting a near full-strength Springbok team for Saturday's Nations Championship clash in Turin.
Pieter-Steph du Toit has joined a growing exodus of South African players from Japan after leaving Toyota Verblitz with immediate effect, the club has announced.
Rassie Erasmus has named a near full-strength Springbok side for the opening match of their European Nations Championship campaign against Italy on Saturday.
Italy hot-stepper Ange Capuozzo will make his Test return for the Azzurri this weekend, after being included in an injury-affected matchday 23 by coach Gonzalo Quesada.
