Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and the latest World Rugby Rankings.
Australia can leapfrog England and France in the World Rugby rankings this weekend if they defeat the All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup Test match.
The Wallabies head into the Sydney fixture off the back of a 50-19 battering at Eden Park in Auckland last weekend. New Zealand cut the gap between themselves and South Africa at the top of the rankings to 1.28 points courtesy of that victory.
Australia still managed to hold onto sixth place despite losing for the first time under new head coach Les Kiss, and they now have the opportunity to move into a five-year high of fifth if they manage to overturn the result.
With the help of World Rugby, here’s how the second Trans-Tasman meeting could impact the men’s international world rankings.
World Rugby rankings permutations
The All Blacks remain hot on the heels of South Africa at the summit of the rankings and could close the gap on the Springboks to 0.82 rating points.
To do that, Dave Rennie’s charges will need to beat the Wallabies by more than 15 points, which would earn them 0.46 rating points. A smaller margin of victory would earn them 0.31 points, closing the gap to 0.97.
If the All Blacks do go two from two over Australia, the latter would drop down to seventh, swapping places with Scotland.
However, the Wallabies will climb above England into fifth if they end their 12-match losing streak against New Zealand with a win in Sydney. A draw, which has occurred eight times in the history of Tests between these two nations, would be enough for Australia to retain sixth place.
If Kiss’ side beat the All Blacks by more than 15 points, Australia will head into the northern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship in November ranked fourth overall, moving above France.
AUSTRALIA (6) 84.89 V NEW ZEALAND (2) 91.81
Australia win by 15 points or less – Australia 86.58, New Zealand 90.12
Australia win by more than 15 points – Australia 87.43, New Zealand 89.27
Draw – Australia 85.58, New Zealand 91.12
New Zealand win by 15 points or less – Australia 84.58, New Zealand 92.12
New Zealand win by more than 15 points – Australia 84.43, New Zealand 92.27
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World Rugby men’s rankings
(As of 16/10/2026)
1 South Africa 93.09
2 New Zealand 91.81
3 Ireland 88.08
4 France 87.43
5 England 85.68
6 Australia 84.89
7 Scotland 84.78
8 Argentina 82.24
9 Japan 77.28
10 Fiji 76.81
11 Wales 76.38
12 Italy 76.30
13 Georgia 73.94
14 Portugal 69.39
15 USA 67.58
16 Chile 66.94
17 Spain 66.83
18 Uruguay 65.75
19 Tonga 65.14
20 Samoa 64.73
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