Rugby
Martyn Thomas, Special to ESPN.co.uk 6y

ESPN's rugby predictions: Game of the week, potential upset & more

Rugby

The end-of-year internationals return for a third -- and final for most teams -- weekend as fans of Test rugby try to gauge how their side's preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup are going.

Ahead of a busy Saturday ESPN predicts which team are set for a big night, which player will shine and where your attention should be amid a packed fixture list.

Player to watch

Damian McKenzie (New Zealand). "You don't go out there to sit there and wait for the 80 minutes to come up and be relieved," McKenzie said this week when quizzed about his playing philosophy. 

"It's about making the most of every opportunity." The All Blacks fullback will certainly have the chance to put that credo into action at the Principality Stadium Saturday when his side attempt to extend their 64-year winning run against Wales. The hosts will again attempt to play a more expansive game in Cardiff, but that should give McKenzie plenty of space to exploit. His five tries in 11 Tests would suggest he is not one to pass up such an invitation.

Game of the weekend

Wales vs. New Zealand, Saturday, 5.15 p.m.

Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen will come face to face again less than five months after the former's British & Irish Lions side secured a series draw with the All Blacks in July. Both will hope that the match in Cardiff does not end in such anticlimactic fashion. Wales will take heart from the fact that five of their starting XV at the Principality Stadium featured in that Test series, even if they face the world's best team on the back of a defeat to the Wallabies and a forgettable encounter with Georgia last weekend. Each side is missing key players -- Sam Warburton, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Kieran Read and Brodie Retallick among those absent -- as the visitors defend a 64-year unbeaten run against their hosts. But as the All Blacks found out in Wellington, such runs must come to an end.

Potential upset

Scotland vs. Australia, Saturday, 2.30 p.m.

The Wallabies head to Murrayfield intent on revenge against Scotland following their hosts' surprise win in Sydney earlier this year. Michael Cheika's side had started their November campaign in fine form, beating Wales in Cardiff to continue an encouraging run of form that had included a win over the All Blacks. However, the wheels came off in dramatic circumstances in the closing 10 minutes at Twickenham last weekend as England ran in three late tries to put the seal on a 30-6 victory. Their preparation this week has been dominated by an investigation into Cheika's behaviour against England -- he was rightly exonerated -- and we will discover at Murrayfield what impact that has had on the team. Scotland will certainly be keen to exploit any signs of a hangover.

Big weekend for...

Henry Slade (England). Having seemingly found a home -- and excelled -- in the No. 13 shirt for England and Exeter since June it came as a surprise to some that he started this November at inside-centre. Slade is a wonderful player, and more than capable of taking on that second-playmaker role in the No. 12 shirt but it is also true that his versatility has cost him at times. Jonathan Joseph remains a favourite of Eddie Jones at outside-centre, but the decision to rest him against Samoa has given Slade another chance to stake his claim. A big performance at Twickenham Saturday might just give Jones pause for thought.

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