Ahead of the weekend\u2019s Six Nations action, we take a look at how the results could impact the World Rugby rankings with France eyeing up third place.<\/p>\n
South Africa and New Zealand will remain as the top two-ranked teams in the world regardless of what transpires in round four of the Championship<\/a>, as neither Ireland nor France are able to surpass them with comprehensive victories.<\/p>\n Six Nations\u2019 impact on the rankings<\/p>\n In fact, Ireland<\/a> could drop to fourth even in victory as Andy Farrell\u2019s men cannot improve their rating with a home victory over a Wales side 15.27 points worse off before home weighting is factored in.<\/p>\n This means that if France<\/a> defeat Scotland<\/a>, they will regain the third place they lost to Ireland on the back of the record defeat of England a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n Fabien Galthie\u2019s men can close the gap on New Zealand to within less than a rating point if they manage to beat Scotland by more than 15 points.<\/p>\n As for the Scots, any kind of defeat will see Gregor Townsend\u2019s men drop to ninth in the rankings and they will drop another position if Italy claim a first-ever victory over England.<\/p>\n The Azzurri would jump to a record-high seventh place, and England would drop to sixth, if Italy\u2019s historic win is by more than 15 points. A smaller margin of victory would still result in Steve Borthwick\u2019s men dropping one position, but Gonzalo Quesada\u2019s side would only move up one place.<\/p>\n England would only slip below Scotland into seventh place if Borthwick\u2019s men are beaten by more than 15 and the Scots beat France by the same margin.<\/p>\n England can only improve on fifth place if they beat Italy and Ireland lose by more than 15 points at home to Wales, a scenario that lifts them a place to fourth.<\/p>\n Wales will climb back above Japan into 11th if they avoid defeat in Dublin. A 15th consecutive men\u2019s Six Nations defeat will not cost Wales 12th spot, but only because Georgia cannot improve their rating by beating Romania in their Rugby Europe Men\u2019s Championship semi-final in Tbilisi.<\/p>\n Scotland v France prediction: \u2018Apex\u2019 fly halves set to do battle as \u2018ruthless\u2019 visitors descend on Edinburgh<\/a><\/p>\n REC\u2019s impact on the rankings<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Georgia will remain in 13th spot even if they suffer a first loss in the competition since 2017. Unlike Georgia, the seven other teams participating in the semi-finals weekend can improve their rating \u2013 Romania by as much as three if they shock the Lelos and end their long unbeaten run in the competition.<\/p>\n However, a maximum three-point boost won\u2019t be enough for Romania to break back into the world\u2019s top 20 as there is a 5.74-point buffer between themselves and Samoa. In the other semi-final, Spain travel to Portugal knowing that a win over their Iberian rivals would take them into their second consecutive final as well as into 14th place in the rankings, equalling their all-time high.<\/p>\n Portugal will fall three places to 20th in defeat but, on the flip side, if Os Lobos win by more than 15 points they will become the higher-ranked of the two sides in 16th.<\/p>\n Ireland v Wales prediction: Visitors \u2018to offer little resistance\u2019 as Andy Farrell\u2019s charges to continue fine Six Nations form<\/a><\/p>\n IRELAND (3) 88.89 v WALES (12) 73.62<\/p>\n Ireland win by 15 points or less \u2013 Ireland 88.89, Wales 73.62 (No change) Ireland win by more than 15 points \u2013 Ireland 88.89, Wales 73.62 (No change) SCOTLAND (7) 81.71 v FRANCE (4) 88.40<\/p>\n Scotland win by 15 points or less \u2013 Scotland 83.08, France 87.03 ITALY (10) 79.81 v ENGLAND (5) 85.62<\/p>\n Italy win by 15 points or less \u2013 Italy 81.09 England 84.34 SWITZERLAND (27) 56.12 v GERMANY (31) 52.19<\/p>\n Switzerland win by 15 points or less \u2013 Switzerland 56.43, Germany 51.88 BELGIUM (22) 59.56 v NETHERLANDS (28) 56.00<\/p>\n Belgium win by 15 points or less \u2013 Belgium 59.90, Netherlands 55.66 GEORGIA (13) 73.48 v ROMANIA (21) 60.69<\/p>\n Georgia win by 15 points or less \u2013 Georgia 73.48, Romania 60.69 (No change) PORTUGAL (17) 66.74 v SPAIN (15) 68.86<\/p>\n Portugal win by 15 points or less \u2013 Portugal 67.65, Spain 67.95 Simon Zebo: Ireland\u2019s win over Italy \u2018blighted\u2019 and \u2018hopefully it was a one-off\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Latest World Rugby Rankings<\/p>\n (As of 06\/03\/2026)<\/p>\n 1 South Africa 93.94 Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n
Draw \u2013 Ireland 87.89, Wales 74.62
Wales win by 15 points or less \u2013 Ireland 86.89, Wales 75.62
Wales win by more than 15 points \u2013 Ireland 85.89, Wales 76.62<\/p>\n
Scotland win by more than 15 points \u2013 Scotland 83.77, France 86.34
Draw \u2013 Scotland 82.08, France 88.03
France win by 15 points or less \u2013 Scotland 81.08, France 89.03
France win by more than 15 points \u2013 Scotland 80.76, France 89.34<\/p>\n
Italy win by more than 15 points \u2013 Italy 81.73 England 83.70
Draw \u2013 Italy 80.09, England 85.34
England win by 15 points or less \u2013 Italy 79.09, England 86.34
England win by more than 15 points \u2013 Italy 78.73, England 86.70<\/p>\n
Switzerland win by more than 15 points \u2013 Switzerland 56.58, Germany 51.73
Germany win by 15 points or less \u2013 Switzerland 54.43, Germany 53.88
Germany win by more than 15 points \u2013 Switzerland 53.58, Germany 54.73<\/p>\n
Belgium win by more than 15 points \u2013 Belgium 60.07, Netherlands 55.49
Netherlands win by 15 points or less \u2013 Belgium 57.90, Netherlands 57.66
Netherlands win by more than 15 points \u2013 Belgium 57.07, Netherlands 58.49<\/p>\n
Georgia win by more than 15 points \u2013 Georgia 73.48, Romania 60.69 (No change)
Romania win by 15 points or less \u2013 Georgia 71.48, Romania 62.69
Romania win by more than 15 points \u2013 Georgia 70.48, Romania 63.69<\/p>\n
Portugal win by more than 15 points \u2013 Portugal 68.11, Spain 67.49
Spain win by 15 points or less \u2013 Portugal 65.65, Spain 69.95
Spain win by more than 15 points \u2013 Portugal 65.11, Spain 70.49<\/p>\n
2 New Zealand 90.33
3 Ireland 88.89
4 France 88.40
5 England 85.62
6 Argentina 84.97
7 Scotland 81.71
8 Australia 81.53
9 Fiji 81.14
10 Italy 79.81
11 Japan 74.09
12 Wales 73.62
13 Georgia 73.48
14 Uruguay 69.19
15 Spain 68.86
16 USA 68.26
17 Portugal 66.74
18 Chile 66.72
19 Tonga 66.66
20 Samoa 66.43<\/p>\n