Cardiff — Saturday’s Test against Wales has more than pride riding on it because it poses the last realistic chance for the Springboks to move back into the top four of the World Rugby rankings. When the latest rankings were published on Monday, SA had fallen to No5 — their lowest end-of-year ranking since 2003 — after losing 20-18 to Italy in Florence last Saturday. Normally world rankings would not be that important at the end of year, but as it is the last Test the Boks will play before the draw for the 2019 World Cup takes place in May, they have no other opportunity to climb back up the ladder. The teams in the Six Nations, all have five more Tests to move up. Currently Wales are sixth, and a win over the Boks could see the two swapping places. The Welsh would also have an entire Six Nations to play to improve their rankings, and so would Scotland and France, who currently occupy seventh and eighth place. The reason being in the top four is so vital is that when the draw for th...
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