Explainer: How the Springboks could lose No 1 ranking vs All Blacks
The Springboks could lose their No 1 World Rugby ranking against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 August.
The Springboks could lose their No 1 World Rugby ranking against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 August.
Kick-off is at 17:00 (SA time).
The top-ranked Springboks will play the third-placed All Blacks in the first of two Tests in South Africa in this year’s Rugby Championship this weekend.
The Springboks have played the All Blacks on 15 previous occasions at Ellis Park and boast nine wins and six defeats.
The most famous Springbok victory at the ground came in the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks’ overall record against the All Blacks isn’t as good.
In 106 previous Tests, the All Blacks have won 62, lost 40 while there have been four draws.
Leading South African bookmakers Hollywoodbets have installed the Springboks as overwhelming 1/3 favourites, with New Zealand on offer at 24/10.
The draw after 80 minutes can be backed at 25/1.
In terms of handicap, the Springboks are 7.5-point favourites.
Explainer
Ahead of the Test, the Springboks sit top of the rankings pile with 93.11 points, with New Zealand on 88.71.
A victory by 15 points or fewer for the Springboks will see their points tally grow by 0.26 points. Similarly, a defeat by that margin will see New Zealand’s points total drop by 0.26 points.
A win by 16 or more points for the Springboks will see them gain 0.39 points – and the All Blacks lose a similar tally.
A draw would see South Africa lose 0.74 points, but stay top, while in such a scenario the All Blacks would pick up 0.74 points, but stay third.
However, a win for New Zealand by 15 or fewer points would see them pick up 1.74 points (and the Springboks lose 1 points), and move to eighth place, with the Springboks dropping to second spot.
A victory by 16 or more points for the All Blacks would see them pick up 2.74 points, but again keep them in third place. The Springboks would again slip to second spot.
LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
| RANK | COUNTRY | POINTS |
| 1 | South Africa | 93.11 |
| 2 | Ireland | 92.12 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 88.37 |
| 4 | France | 86.96 |
| 5 | England | 85.40 |
| 6 | Argentina | 83.64 |
| 7 | Scotland | 82.82 |
| 8 | Italy | 79.98 |
| 9 | Australia | 78.96 |
| 10 | Fiji | 77.44 |
| 11 | Wales | 76.04 |
| 12 | Georgia | 74.10 |
| 13 | Samoa | 73.65 |
| 14 | Japan | 71.63 |
| 15 | Portugal | 70.61 |
| 16 | Tonga | 68.66 |
| 17 | Uruguay | 67.39 |
| 18 | Spain | 66.29 |
| 19 | USA | 66.01 |
| 20 | Romania | 62.62 |
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard
New Zealand
TBA
Your prediction for Saturday?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest Springbok news.