Wales could return to the top 10 of the World Rugby rankings for the first time in two years this weekend. Steve Tandy's side, currently ranked 11th, closed the gap with a win over ninth-ranked Fiji last weekend. Victory over Argentina in San Juan on Saturday would see them back in the top 10, provided Italy do not beat New Zealand for the first time in history.
Wales' Rankings Revival
Wales fell out of the top 10 in July 2024 under Warren Gatland, who presided over a 14-Test losing streak that eventually stretched to 18 matches after his departure, dropping Wales to 14th. Under Tandy, Wales have won one match in each of their past four campaigns. However, a return to the top 10 faces a tough challenge against Argentina, who scored 52 points in Cardiff in their last meeting in November.
Other teams could also move into the top 10 this weekend. Japan could return for the first time since July 2023 if they beat Ireland in Australia, provided Italy and Wales lose. South Africa could surrender top spot if they suffer a first-ever home defeat to Scotland by more than 15 points and New Zealand beat Italy. The All Blacks could fall to third if they lose to Italy and Ireland beat Japan. France could overtake Ireland in third if they beat Australia and Japan beat Ireland with a margin of more than 15 points. England could climb to fourth with victory over Fiji, provided Scotland lose and France lose by more than 15 points. Fiji could climb to seventh with a big win over England and Australia losing. Scotland could reach a new high of third or fourth, but could also drop to seventh if England and Argentina win, with Los Pumas needing to beat Wales by more than 15 points.
Wales U20s Coach's Son Starts
Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin has made two changes for the fifth-place semi-final of the World Rugby Junior World Championship against Australia on Sunday. Loosehead prop George Tuckley and second row Tom Cottle are unavailable due to injury, replaced by Ospreys’ Dylan James, son of Wales senior scrum coach Paul James, and Bristol Bears’ Osian Williams respectively. Bristol prop George Leyland is set to make his championship debut from the bench. Wales failed to qualify for the top four semi-finals after losing to South Africa but can finish the tournament positively.
Whiffin said: “This is little time to dwell on what might have been against the Junior Boks with such a quick turnaround between games. The boys put in a great effort against South Africa but now the focus is fully on another southern hemisphere opponent. This is a great opportunity for this group of players as they haven’t played Australia before. Australia will be a tough act to overcome but we are confident in the squad we have selected and look forward to the challenge ahead.”
Wales U20s: Lewis Edwards; Rhys Cummings, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Steffan Emanuel, Tom Bowe; Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Sion Davies; Dylan James, Tom Howe, Jac Pritchard, Will Evans, Osian Williams, Deian Gwynne, Caio James, Evan Minto. Replacements: Oscar Thomas, George Leyland, Yestyn Cook, Luke Evans, Alex Ridgway, Cai Gealy, Lloyd Lucas, Bailey Cutts.
Scotland Aim to Do Their Talking on the Field
Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu insists his side will do their talking on the pitch when they face world champions South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. Gregor Townsend's men face a tough challenge against the back-to-back world champions, who comfortably beat England last weekend. Scotland are in good form after a notable victory in Argentina last time out.
Tuipulotu told the BBC: “I'd like to think maybe our confidence is a little bit more quiet, to keep it in the changing room. There's no point about talking about anything like that before the game, because you've got to go out there and play the world champions in their backyard. Maybe this is a little bit of me gaining experience over the last two, three years, it's better to just leave it to Saturday. Of course I'm confident in my group. I'd be stupid as a captain to sit up here and say, 'I'm not confident in my group and we're going to go there and lose' before the game. That's stupid, you know? So of course I'm confident in my group, but we'll focus on ourselves. We know the challenge at hand and we're just really excited for it, genuinely.”
He added: “This is why I started playing rugby when I was 12 years old, to be in these types of weeks, preparing with this type of group, with an opportunity to play the world champions in their backyard. Just reflecting this week of where we've come on since the pain of Argentina, but not only that, I won't get this opportunity again to come up with a team and develop with a team like I am right now. I feel like I'm in probably a rare space in my career where I'm not going to get this opportunity again to be coached by this coaching staff, to play with this group of players, in the current state of where I am in my own career. So I'm very grateful to be in the space that I am and captaining this side.”
