Women's World Cup 2022

With double points on offer, there is a big opportunity for teams to improve their positions in the rankings over the course of Rugby World Cup 2021.

Indeed, none of the teams in the top 10 stayed where they had been previously. Significant milestones are possible for two other teams in that South Africa – the team that has gained the most rating points in the build-up to the tournament – and Japan could move into the top 10 for the first time. A win for Wales would send them up one place to eighth, while Scotland would become the higher-ranked of the two teams if they come out on top for only the third time against their Celtic cousins since 2006. Meanwhile, a first-ever place in the top 20 would be more than a just reward for Fiji if they achieve what no other team has done in the last 25 matches and beat red-hot favourites England on their tournament debut. While France are in a similar position in that they won’t get any additional points for a victory over South Africa, whose total is 17.59 points fewer, they will replace Canada in third if the North Americans lose or draw their fixture with Japan and they win. Other than the top three, England, New Zealand and Canada, who all play opponents significantly lower than them in the rankings, it is possible for all the remaining teams to improve their position this weekend.