How the Springboks could LOSE their No 1 World Rugby ranking – Bundlezy

How the Springboks could LOSE their No 1 World Rugby ranking

The Springboks will put their No 1 World Rugby ranking on the line on Saturday against Australia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Kick-off is at 17:10.

Should Rassie Erasmus’s team beat the Wallabies, they will hold onto top spot no matter what happens in the other Rugby Championship match between Argentina and New Zealand at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba.

Kick-off is that clash is at 23:10 (SA time).

However, should the Springboks draw or lose to Australia, they will slip to No 2 – provided the All Blacks beat the Pumas.

History is in the Springboks’ favour having never lost to Australia at Ellis Park before.

South Africa’s biggest ever win – in 92 Tests – against Australia came at Ellis Park in 2008 when they triumphed 53-8.

TEAMS

South Africa

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse

Australia

TBA

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