The Rugby World Cup will return to Australia next year, 24 years after England delivered the Northern Hemisphere's only triumph in the 2003 edition - but the Springboks and the All Blacks remain rugby union's powerhouses and only France look truly primed to match them long-term.
The 2026 Rugby's Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series reminded the world why the rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand stands alone in terms of prestige. The Springboks lost the first Test, but bounced back to win the series 3-1.
South Africa's ruthless efficiency when it mattered most and strength in depth were too overwhelming for Dave Rennie's injury-hit All Blacks. However, New Zealand did at least exploit frailties in the Springboks' rush defence.
There are several teams who can catch South Africa when Rassie Erasmus' charges are off key on a specific day - as the Wallabies proved with a 42-38 win over an experimental side. However, on the evidence of 2026 and the preceding years, Les Bleus are the only side anywhere close to structurally prepared to challenge world rugby's two leading sides.
Since their 32-17 loss to the Springboks in November 2025, France have won 8 of 10 Tests. They lost 50-40 to Scotland in March, but still won a second successive Six Nations, and went down 34-32 to the All Blacks in July after resting several key players - including captain and star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Those two defeats aside, France have given sceptics few reasons to suspect they are anything other than the real deal. The 48-46 win over England was not the mark of a defensively perfect side, but France's offensive firepower is frightening - with winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey having scored 29 tries for them in 27 Tests.
The 23-year-old is a product of a youth system that has been churning out superb talent for some time. France have made five of the last six Junior World Championship finals, winning three.
Les Bleus lost 29-28 to eventual champions the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Like the All Blacks, who lost the final 12-11, they remain behind the Springboks in the global order, but only by fine margins.
Several other teams - most notably Ireland and Australia - can challenge South Africa, New Zealand and France on their day. Ireland currently sit third in the official world rankings, above France, but factors not considered in the rankings formula suggest it is Fabien Galthié's side best placed to provide a sustained challenge to the Southern Hemisphere giants.
The rankings formula does not factor in silverware, and France have proven more capable of delivering when it matters most than Ireland in recent years - winning the last two Six Nations titles. Apart from the national team's success at senior and U20 level, France have also dominated European club rugby, with French teams winning the last six Champions Cup trophies.
Ireland have been runners-up in the last two Six Nations campaigns and Irish side Leinster have lost four of the last five Champions Cup finals to French clubs.
Much can, of course, change in a year. South Africa are the most successful side in Rugby World Cup history with four titles, and it could be argued that they were not clear favourites a year before any of the tournaments they won.
However, with just under 12 months before the 2027 tournament kicks off in Perth, all indications are that the favourites to not only win the tournament, but dominate for years afterwards are South Africa, New Zealand and France above all others.