After winning the Rugby Championship, the Springboks are ready to swing back into action this Sunday, with Rassie Erasmus’ charges currently occupying second place in the world rugby rankings.
A win over seventh-placed Scotland this Sunday won’t have much of an impact on the Springboks’ ranking, but they will have a vested interest in the clash between the All Blacks and Ireland on Friday night.
This past weekend, New Zealand gained 0.97 points for their 24-22 win over England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in the first match of this year’s Autumn Nations Series.
The All Blacks are still third but with an improved rating of 89.67 points, and are now just 2.10 rankings behind South Africa.
Meanwhile, England keep hold of fifth place, but with a reduced rating of 84.43 points.
Despite the current standings in the rankings, many feel that the Springboks should be No 1, and even Scotland coach Scotland coach Gregor Townsend is under no illusions that ‘they’re the best team in the world’.
When asked about the improvements they would be looking for this weekend, Townsend admitted: “Every area, for sure. How we attack, how we execute, the set-piece.
“That’s what you do during the week, regardless of what happened at the weekend. There will be a focus on what we need to get right next week because of the opposition as well.
“I think we’ll have to be on it with every action, every minute against South Africa because they’re the best team in the world, world champions, however we want to describe them.
“They’re definitely playing a different style of rugby,” he added. “They’re moving the ball wide, they’ve got multiple threats throughout the team.
“It’ll be an open game, we believe. Our defence will have to be really on point, not just for their physicality that’s coming, but also their threats when they move the ball wide.”
HERE IS WHERE THE SPRINGBOKS STAND IN THE LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS:
Fiji have dropped below Australia and into 10th place in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings after their record 57-17 defeat to hosts Scotland in the opening round of the Autumn Nations Series.
It was the most points Fiji have conceded and the largest margin of defeat in 10 test meetings with Scotland, for whom Darcy Graham marked his return to the international arena with four tries.
Scotland picked up 0.58 points for the win, their first at Murrayfield since they retained the Calcutta Cup, and remain in seventh but with less than a point now between themselves and Argentina.
The loss of 0.58 points in exchange was enough for Fiji’s rating to dip below Australia’s and their new total of 79.07 puts them in 10th.
WHAT IS YOUR SCORE PREDICTION FOR SUNDAY?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing [email protected] or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news and views.
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
