This Saturday, all eyes will be on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Ireland will face France in what could be a decisive game for the 2025 Men’s Six Nations Championship.

Beyond the excitement of the match itself, this game could also shake up the world rugby rankings, with the Springboks currently holding the top spot.

The Stakes for Ireland and France

The Test between Ireland and France kicks off at 16:15 South African time on Saturday, and there’s a lot more at stake than just Six Nations glory.

If Ireland manages to defeat France, they could make history by securing a third consecutive Six Nations title.

More importantly, they could also keep their hopes of a Grand Slam alive, with the final weekend of the tournament in sight.

If things go well for the Irish, they could even close the gap to the Springboks in the world rankings, reducing the difference to less than a point.

The rankings are closely watched, and this clash could have a significant impact on how the top spots shape up.

How the Rankings Could Be Affected

Despite the stakes, Ireland won’t be able to overtake South Africa at the top of the rankings this weekend, even if they beat France by more than 15 points.

A victory of that margin would only give Ireland 0.52 rating points, leaving them trailing the Springboks by 0.90 points.

If Ireland loses, it could cost them their current second-place ranking, with New Zealand potentially moving ahead.

A more than 15-point victory for France would also see Les Bleus leapfrog Ireland into third.

France has not been ranked above Ireland since July 2022, and this could be their chance to do so.

On the other hand, if Scotland wins over Wales, they will remain in their current spot, but a defeat for France would see them drop to fourth.

Other Key Permutations for the Six Nations and the World Rankings

It’s not just Ireland and France who will be affected by the results this weekend.

The battle for rankings between Scotland, Wales, and Italy will also play a significant role in shaping the world standings.

Scotland’s game against Wales is crucial for their top-eight positioning.

If Scotland draws with Wales, they will fall below Australia.

A defeat by more than 15 points will see them drop three places, even behind Fiji.

Italy’s potential win over England could also shift the rankings.

For the Azzurri to move up, they would need to defeat England by more than 15 points, which would push them ahead of Fiji in the rankings.

As for England, they are unlikely to move up from their current position at number six, regardless of whether they beat Italy.

A loss, however, would push them down into seventh place, especially if Scotland or Australia outperforms them.

Current World Rugby Rankings

As Ireland gears up for their clash with France, here’s how the top of the world rugby rankings currently stand:

South Africa – 92.78 points
Ireland – 91.36 points
New Zealand – 90.36 points
France – 87.86 points
Argentina – 84.97 points
England – 84.26 points
Scotland – 82.36 points
Australia – 81.52 points
Fiji – 80.07 points
Italy – 78.00 points

Upcoming Six Nations Fixtures

Here’s what’s coming up in the Six Nations:

Round 4:

Saturday, 8 March:
- Ireland vs France
- Scotland vs Wales
Sunday, 9 March:
- England vs Italy

Round 5:

Saturday, 15 March:
- Italy vs Ireland
- Wales vs England
- France vs Scotland

Tickets for the Springboks’ Upcoming Matches

If you’re hoping to catch the Springboks in action against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, tickets are available now! Head over to Ticketmaster.co.uk or England Rugby to grab your tickets starting at £55 for adults and £28 for Under-16s.

Hospitality packages are also available at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.