The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw is just under a month away as the teams battle for an important spot.
Australia finds itself in a crucial battle for the final spots in the top six, which would guaratee top seeding when the pools are decided in December.
Watch every second of the 2025 Autumn Nations Series live and on demand via Stan Sport.
This would see them avoid the likes of South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland and England among others, who will battle for top spot to finish the year.
Rugby.com.au breaks down the key battles in relation to this week's fixtures.
The Wallabies desperately need victory against Ireland and/or France to secure their fate in the top band.
As hosts, the Australians will be drawn into Pool A regardless, meaning missing the top six isn't the end of the world given a second place finish in the pool stages would draw them against one of the third-best teams in the round of 16.
However, a victory over either (or both) of two of Europe's best would likely provide an easier path to the knockout stages.
Here are the permutations for this week, with Argentina's match against Scotland vital to how it all shapes out.
- Australia can move into the top six – and Band 1 for the RWC 2027 Draw – if they beat Ireland by more than 15 points and Argentina fail to beat Scotland at Murrayfield.
- If Los Pumas lose, then Australia simply need a win to climb to sixth.
- The Wallabies could climb another place to fifth if they win by more than 15 points and France suffer a loss to Fiji by the same margin.
- Scotland will climb above Australia if they beat Argentina and the Wallabies lose in Dublin.
New Zealand can return top of the World Rugby Rankings should they defeat England and Italy manage to upset the Springboks.
The defending world champions can't improve their point total as a consequence of the 14.08 rating points between the teams. The All Blacks can reduce the margin to 0.25 points with a win by over 15 points and a South Africa win by less than 15.
The English can rise to as high as third with a victory over New Zealand and if Australia take down Ireland, a position they last occupied briefly in February 2022.
France can also take third place with victory over Fiji and England, and Ireland's defeats to New Zealand and Australia, respectively.
However, should they lose by more than 15 to the Fijians, then they could drop outside of the top six.
