The Springboks may have ended the All Blacks' 11-month reign at the top of the IRB World Rankings with their win last weekend, but the rivals meet again on Saturday in the knowledge that whoever emerges victorious will hold the number one spot.

The Springboks' 28-19 victory in Bloemfontein saw them take over top spot - for the first time since losing it after being shut out by the All Blacks in Cape Town in August last year - with a rating of 90.30, just two tenths ahead of New Zealand.

If South Africa can secure back-to-back wins they could increase that cushion to over two points with a victory by more than 15 points in Durban. Even a smaller winning margin in a match which will see Springbok captain John Smit lead his country for a record 60th time will still leave them 1.5 rating points clear.

New Zealand, however, do have a good record against the Springboks in Durban, having claimed victory on two of the three times they have met there in the history of the Tri-Nations, including the last two; 26-21 in June 2007 and 30-23 in August 2002.

Two years ago, Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko scored tries in the last 11 minutes as New Zealand fought back from 21-12 down to win and another victory by any margin on Saturday will not only take them back to the top of the Tri-Nations standings, but also the IRB World Rankings.

In fact, as the away side, a first draw between the rivals in Tri Nations history would be enough to take the All Blacks back to the top, albeit only by just over four tenths. They could, though, head home with a healthy 3.76 point cushion if they were to win by more than 15 points.

There is no danger of either side slipping down to third place in the rankings because even a loss by more than 15 points would still leave them more than two (South Africa) or three (New Zealand) rating points clear of the other Tri-Nations side Australia.

365

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