Ranking points move according to the gap between two teams, not how far apart they sit in the table. Once that gap passes 10 points, the stronger side has nothing left to gain from winning — it's already the expected result, worth zero points. The weaker side still has everything to gain from an upset win, however big the gap grows. This shows, for each of the top 20 nations, who they can genuinely win points from, who could still cost them points if they lose, and who's a free hit — no points lost even in defeat. Points can also change hands on a draw, but since wins and losses are far more common in rugby union, this page sticks to the win/loss picture for simplicity.
| Rank | Country | Ranking points | Win-gain opponents above | Win-gain opponents below (within 10pts) | Total win-gain opportunities | Lowest-ranked opponent points can be gained from with a win | Highest-ranked team points can be lost to when losing | "Free-hit" teams above (zero points lost when losing) |
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