Canada could end their 17-month wait to return to the top three of the World Rugby Women’s Rankings if successful in Sydney this weekend.
Having beaten USA 50-7 in the opening game of the World Rugby Pacific Four Series, Canada head to Allianz Stadium aiming to maintain their unblemished record against the Wallaroos.
A new era begins 🫡#Wallaroos pic.twitter.com/Ahxr4GsKeB
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) May 6, 2024
Canada have won all five previous encounters and a sixth straight win by a margin of more than 15 points would lift them above France and into third place for the first time since the start of November 2022.
New Zealand are uncatchable in second, however, as a gap of 0.04 points would still exist between them and Canada if they were to lose to the USA for the first time in more than three decades by an emphatic margin and Canada did a number on Australia.
The Black Ferns, meanwhile, cannot improve their rating with victory in their first test of the year due to the 17.99 points and eight places between themselves and the Women’s Eagles before home weighting is factored in.
USA currently sit at their lowest-ever position of 10th but will jump three places to seventh – above Ireland, Italy and Wales – if they beat New Zealand for the first time since Women’s Rugby World Cup 1991.
Australia are safe in fifth place regardless of the outcome of either game. A win by more than 15 points for the Wallaroos in Jo Yapp’s first game in charge, though, will see the deficit between themselves and Canada above cut to 1.16 rating points from the current 4.66 points.
Rugby Africa Women's Cup set for a fantastic finale
For the third match in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2024, reigning champions South Africa cannot improve their rating or their current position of 12th by beating a Madagascar side 19.14 points and 14 places worse off than them.
However, the Springbok Women will lose a place and fall below Spain if they fail to beat Madagascar for the first time in what amounts to a title decider.
A draw would be enough to lift Madagascar above Trinidad and Tobago into 25th but a win by more than 15 points would see the Lady Makis climb three places to 23rd regardless of the outcome of the other match.
A smaller margin of victory would be sufficient for a three-place gain so long as Kenya don’t beat Cameroon by more than 15 points in the day’s earlier game in Antananarivo.
Kenya cannot improve on 23rd place this weekend as they can only close to within 1.24 points of China above them.
Cameroon will drop two places to 33rd in defeat, however, a win would result in them moving up by one or two places depending on the margin of victory.
Kenya will fall one place if held to a draw by Cameroon, while defeat could see them drop as many as three places.
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