World Rugby rankings

Top three rankings tussle in Dublin

France will fall below Japan for the first time in rankings history if they lose to Italy in Marseilles on Friday.

Those are just two of the possible permutations in the World Rugby Rankings this weekend as the Six Nations and the Americas Rugby Championship continue.

Round three of the Six Nations kicks off on Friday with France’s encounter with Italy in Marseilles, followed by Saturday’s double bill featuring Ireland versus Wales and Scotland against England.