The Freedom Cup and the World Rugby No 1 ranking will be on the line when the All Blacks and Springboks clash in Wellington on Saturday.
For Rassie Erasmus’ men to return to the summit, the equation is simple: beat the All Blacks. A win by 15 points or less will see New Zealand slip to second and Ireland to third, while victory by more than 15 points would drop the All Blacks to third and keep Ireland in second.
A win of any margin for Scott Robertson’s charges will consolidate their grip on top spot, giving them at least a 2.02-point buffer. A victory by more than 15 points would stretch that lead to 2.27 points.
The Boks, however, cannot fall lower than third regardless of the result.
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In Saturday’s earlier Rugby Championship clash, the Wallabies cannot rise above sixth even if they complete a double over Argentina.
However, defeat would see the Wallabies drop to seventh, with Los Pumas climbing above them and securing a place in band one for the 2027 World Cup draw in December.
Argentina cannot drop from their current seventh position.
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World Rugby rankings
1. New Zealand 91.35 (+0.63)
2. Ireland 89.83
3. South Africa 89.38 (-0.63)
4. France 87.82
5. England 87.64
6. Australia 85.40 (+0.55)
7. Argentina 82.84 (-0.55)
8. Scotland 81.57
9. Fiji 80.56 (+0.06)
10. Italy 77.77
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
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