Canada can reclaim second in World Rugby rankings by ending England's 39-match winning run

Canada can reclaim second place in the World Rugby women’s rankings this weekend if they defeat England at Sandy Park in Exeter, ending the world champions’ 39-match winning run in the process. The result would also need to be accompanied by a New Zealand loss to Scotland for the permutation to fully play out.

John Mitchell’s England have the chance to improve their rating for the first time this year with a victory of 15 points or more against Canada. A win by that margin would push the world champions to a maximum rating of 98.34 — the highest any England side has ever been rated — earning them a gain of up to 0.25 points.

New Zealand, meanwhile, cannot improve their ranking regardless of the outcome against Scotland. Scotland themselves could climb from seventh to sixth, ahead of Italy, if they beat the Black Ferns for the first time in their history.

Australia have the most to gain in the top half of the table. A win by more than 15 points against France in Aix-en-Provence would lift the Wallaroos three places, from ninth to sixth — but only if the USA Women’s Eagles also upset Ireland by the same margin in Dublin. Ireland cannot improve on their current fifth-place ranking with a win against the Eagles, though the USA can move up two places with a victory.

Wales can climb at least one place if they beat the Springbok Women, regardless of Fiji’s result in the WXV Global Series Challenger. The Springbok Women, who face Wales on Friday night at Cardiff Arms Park, can reach a new high of ninth with a win of 15 points or more.

In the WXV Global Series Challenger, Fiji risk dropping two places — from 12th to 14th — if they lose to Hong Kong China by 15 points or more and Spain beat Samoa by the same margin. A Hong Kong China victory would match their all-time high ranking of 15th.

Brazil can claim a new high of 22nd if they beat the Netherlands on Saturday, while Samoa can return to 15th should they beat Spain and Fiji overcome Hong Kong China. Samoa’s last outing saw them lose 70-0 to the Netherlands in head coach Fuimaono Bella Milo’s first game in charge.