World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the opening round of the Guinness Women's Six Nations and one-off match in Spain this weekend.
England are unable to improve their rating with victory over hosts Italy due to the 20.57 rating point difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
The same is true for France in the opening match of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2024 as Les Bleues have a rating 16.37 points better than Ireland.
England will retain their position as the world’s number one side if they lose as they hold a 5.61-point advantage over New Zealand in second and can only have their rating cut by a maximum of three points.
France, however, will be replaced in third by Canada if they lose at home to Ireland.
Ireland will climb above USA into ninth if they avoid defeat against Les Bleues with another place possible depending on the margin of victory and the outcome of Wales v Scotland.
Like England and France, it is not impossible for Wales to improve on their position in the rankings – currently an all-time high of sixth – if they beat Scotland, as there are not enough points on offer for them to catch Australia.
A win for Scotland, though, would see them become the higher-ranked of the two teams with Wales relegated to eighth, a drop of two places.
If Scotland win by more than 15 points and Italy fail to beat England, Scotland will climb up to a new high of sixth. They are currently in their best-ever position of eighth.
Italy are guaranteed to move up to sixth if they beat England regardless of how the Wales v Scotland game pans out.
A draw will have the same outcome for the Azzurre providing Scotland’s margin of victory is 15 points or less.
Ireland’s position in the top 10 is not under threat as they cannot lose any points this weekend and the two teams below them in action – Spain and South Africa – are too far back to catch them.
With just one place and 0.52 separating Spain in 12th and South Africa in 13th, whoever wins the match between the two teams will end the weekend with the higher ranking.
A draw would also be enough to lift South Africa above their hosts.
Spain cannot move any higher than their present position of 12th in victory.
Match officials
Kat Roche (USA) will take charge of France in a Test for the first time with the visit of Ireland to Le Mans also her first on French soil. Ireland have lost their only previous Test with the American official in the middle.
Clara Munarini (Italy) referees Wales v Scotland for the third time albeit the first on Welsh soil having overseen Scotland's 27-20 win in Glasgow in 2021 and Wales' 18-15 win at Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.
Aurélie Groizeleau (France) is no stranger to the Italy v England fixture having refereed it on four previous occasions, including her Women's Six Nations debut. Two of those quartet have been at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi with the Red Roses enjoying comfortable victories, 54-0 in 2020 and 67-3 in 2021.
Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) takes charge of Spain v South Africa for the third time with each side having enjoyed victory on the road, Las Leonas winning 29-12 in Despatch 2019 and the Springbok Women 35-20 in Madrid last April.
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