The top of the World Rugby rankings could be shaken up again depending on the results during this weekend\u2019s Rugby Championship action.<\/p>\n
South Africa surrendered their number one ranking in defeat to Australia in round one and could make a swift return to the summit.<\/p>\n
New Zealand replaced the Springboks at the top of the rankings after Scott Robertson\u2019s men defeated Argentina.<\/p>\n
With the help of World Rugby<\/a>, we take a look at the weekend permutations.<\/p>\n World Rugby rankings permutations<\/p>\n For the first time this year, the Springboks<\/a> are able to gain rating points with a victory. A win could see South Africa secure an immediate return to number one.<\/p>\n However, Rassie Erasmus\u2019 men will need a favour from Argentina as the Boks must first avenge their defeat by Australia<\/a> and hope that New Zealand lose by more than 15 points to Los Pumas in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n If this does occur, then South Africa and New Zealand will swap places, but if not, a win is still enough to lift the Boks above Ireland into second place.<\/p>\n However, if the results and margins from round one of the Rugby Championship<\/a> are repeated, the Springboks will crash down to sixth in the rankings \u2013 one shy of their lowest-ever position of seventh, which they occupied in 2018.<\/p>\n Springboks v Wallabies preview: \u2018Built-up hatred\u2019 to edge Rassie Erasmus\u2019 charges to victory in \u2018fire and brimstone\u2019 Test<\/a><\/p>\n All Blacks and Wallabies\u2019 wins of more than 15 points would see the former open up a 2.99 rating point advantage over Ireland at the top of the rankings. France and Australia would benefit from South Africa\u2019s drop, climbing to third and fourth, respectively. Fourth would be the Wallabies\u2019 best position for nearly four years.<\/p>\n A victory by a smaller margin for Australia will not result in any positional changes. As for Argentina, a defeat of any kind will see them swap places with Scotland and drop down to eighth. A first-ever win over the All Blacks in Argentina will not result in a climb up the rankings for Los Pumas.<\/p>\n Ireland could benefit from the results in the Rugby Championship as an Argentine victory of more than 15 points, accompanied by a draw between South Africa and Australia, would see Andy Farrell\u2019s charges return to the top of the rankings for the first time since November.<\/p>\n