There’s a lot at stake in the Autumn Nations Series this year, especially for teams like the Wallabies. Who are fighting to climb the world rankings before the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 draw next month? Every game counts now; a strong finish could change their tournament fate, while a stumble could make things much tougher in 2027.
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Right now, Australia sits in the second tier of seedings for the upcoming World Cup pools. If they can’t improve their ranking before December 3, they’ll likely find themselves in a group with one of rugby’s biggest powerhouses.
That could mean facing familiar rivals like New Zealand, the two-time defending champions South Africa, or even England, who just beat them last weekend. Other top-ranked nations like Ireland, France, and Argentina also currently sit inside the top six, all potential threats the Wallabies would prefer to avoid early on.
That’s why the next three Test matches are absolutely crucial. If Australia can climb just one more place in the world rankings, they’ll move into the top band for the pool draw. That would give them a huge advantage.
It would mean avoiding heavyweights such as the All Blacks and Springboks in the group stage. Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison summed up the situation after their recent loss to England on Stan Sport.
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That team is in seventh, we want to see that movement up, he said. There’s everything to play for. These end-of-year tours are exactly what this team needs right now. Harrison also stressed that this period is about more than just rankings; it’s a chance for players to fight for their place in the team.
There are guys on the field today who’ll want to earn that jersey again and put in a performance they can be proud of against Italy next week, he said. It’s a great opportunity to build competition inside the squad and turn things around quickly.
The Wallabies will certainly be hoping to bounce back this weekend against Italy after a tough 25-7 defeat to England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. In that match, Harry Potter scored Australia’s only try, but England pulled away in the second half to seal a convincing win.
After the game, coach Joe Schmidt was asked about how much the world rankings matter in his team’s current situation. The New Zealand-born coach, who took over the Wallabies earlier this year, made it clear that while rankings are important, his main focus is long-term development.
We’ve got to build over the next two years and not be afraid of playing one of the big guns, Schmidt said. Australia last played Italy three years ago in a match that ended in a shock 28-27 loss for the Wallabies.
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On that day, debutant Ben Donaldson had a chance to win it with a conversion, but his kick drifted wide, leaving Australia stunned. That memory will no doubt still sting as they prepare for this weekend’s rematch.
Schmidt was realistic but optimistic when asked about his team’s position in the rankings. If we don’t get to six in the world, we just have to keep building, he said. You can still have a great chance even if you’re not ranked that high. Of course, it would be ideal. But what matters most is that we keep improving.
He pointed out that Australia has already shown flashes of real quality this year. We’ve had some big wins this season. With a full squad, we’ve shown we can beat top teams, he explained. Now, it’s about building depth behind that core group. This tour is a big part of that process.
Schmidt also expects a tough challenge from Italy, praising their coach, Gonzalo Gonzo Quesada, a longtime friend. They’re a good side. Last time they played England, they were only one score down at halftime, Schmidt said.
They’ve got some great attacking players who compete at the top level, and they’ll be ready. We’ll have to pick ourselves up quickly. With just weeks left before the World Cup draw, every match now carries extra weight.
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