South Africa currently hold the top spot in rugby union power rankings, a year out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Despite a recent defeat by Australia, the Springboks' emphatic comeback and their 3-1 series victory over New Zealand this year underscore their position as the team to beat.
New Zealand are ranked as the closest challengers, with France in third place, considered by many as the side most likely to trouble South Africa. Ireland are positioned at the front of a second cluster of teams, with Australia, the World Cup hosts, ranked fifth after a win against the Springboks.
Scotland, who secured victories over England and France in the Six Nations, are sixth in the rankings. England are placed seventh, with the assessment that they are no closer to closing the gap on the genuinely elite sides than they were at the last World Cup.