New Zealand will end the year as the world's best team regardless of the outcome of their match against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday as nearest rivals England cannot overhaul them at the top of the World Rugby Rankings.

With no rating points available to England for victory over lower-ranked opponents Samoa given the sizeable differential in their respective rankings, Eddie Jones’ charges are unable to improve their rating of 90.87, which would leave them still just over a tenth adrift of the All Blacks even if Steve Hansen’s men slip up badly in the Welsh capital and suffer a loss of three rating points.

Australia, ranked third in the world, get the chance to claw back some lost ground between themselves and England, their conquerors at Twickenham last weekend, as one and two-tenths of a point is available if they can come away from Murrayfield with an emphatic victory over Scotland.

Elsewhere, it is possible for Fiji and Japan to match their historic highs of ninth in the rankings, while an opportunity exists for Brazil to continue their rise as they prepare to close out their European tour with a match against Spain in Villajoyosa.

WALES (7) v NEW ZEALAND (1)

Liam Williams and Alex Cuthbert are ruled out of the game through injury as Wales go in search of their first win over the All Blacks in 64 years. As a result, Hallam Amos and Steff Evans, who have scored three tries between them in the opening two November encounters, join Leigh Halfpenny in the back three.

Alun Wyn Jones captains the side from the second-row as Warren Gatland names the same pack that took to the field against Australia a fortnight ago.

Sam Whitelock will lead out the All Blacks for the first time after Kieran Read failed to recover from injury. Luke Whitelock, Sam’s brother, takes Read’s place at number eight.

There is one other injury-enforced change to the match-day 23 which played Scotland last week as Patrick Tuipulotu comes in for Luke Romano. Meanwhile, Liam Squire will start at blindside flanker, and second-row Scott Barrett comes onto the bench.

In brief

  • New Zealand have not lost to Wales since 1953, a run stretching to 29 matches
  • Wales coach Warren Gatland led the British and Irish Lions in the drawn series against the All Blacks earlier this year
  • New Zealand need one more conversion for 100 in tests against Wales
  • The most tries New Zealand have scored in a match against Wales is 10 (Christchurch, 1988)
  • Wales have scored just six tries in open play in their last five internationals
  • Scarlets centre Scott Williams wins his 50th cap for Wales

Rankings predictor

While the All Blacks cannot improve their position, a narrow victory would be worth two whole points for Wales. Win by more than 15 points and the reward goes up to three. If that scenario unfolds, a three-place rise to fourth is possible for Warren Gatland’s troops, but Scotland and South Africa would have to fail to win and Ireland be well beaten for that to happen.

ENGLAND (2) v SAMOA (16)

Number eight Sam Simmonds is handed his first start for England, lining up alongside Chris Robshaw and Maro Itoje in the back row. Robshaw co-captains the side with George Ford in the absence of Dylan Hartley, whose place at hooker has gone to Jamie George. Owen Farrell has again been rested with Alex Lozowski paired at centre with Henry Slade.

Hartley is named among the replacements, while prop Mako Vunipola drops out of the match-day squad altogether. His place at loose-head is taken by Ellis Genge.

Samoa include seven English-based players – Northampton's Ahsee Tuala, Gloucester's Motu Matu'u, Sale's TJ Ioane, and the Bristol quartet of David Lemi, Alapati Leiua, Jack Lam and captain Chris Vui – in their starting XV.

In brief

  • England have won the seven previous meetings, the last of which was a 28-9 win at Twickenham in 2014
  • The smallest margin between the sides is 13 points: 35-22 at RWC 2003 and 26-13 at Twickenham in 2010
  • A try for Jonny May would make him England’s joint highest try scorer v Samoa (equalling Rory Underwood’s record of three)
  • Chris Robshaw captains England in a test for the first time under Eddie Jones
  • Samoa need to win to avoid a whitewash in 2017

Rankings predictor

England can be caught by Australia in second but only if they lose by more than 15 points and Australia inflict the same margin of defeat on Scotland. A big Samoan win has the potential to lift the Pacific Islanders up four places to 12th, but that result would need to be accompanied by a big loss for Italy, a defeat for Georgia and a draw between Romania and Tonga.

SCOTLAND (6) v AUSTRALIA (3) 

Sean Maitland goes straight into the Scotland team as Gregor Townsend makes four changes to the side that so nearly beat the All Blacks. The Saracens flyer’s inclusion is the only change in an otherwise all-Glasgow backline, while in the pack number eight Ryan Wilson returns after missing the All Blacks match with a shoulder injury.

The two other changes upfront are in the second row, where Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist starts his first match of the November series alongside Jonny Gray, while tight-head prop Simon Berghan earns his first start for the national team in the front-row.

Former Australia captain Stephen Moore will start in his final test match, with Tatafu Polota-Nau on the bench. Elsewhere, Ben McCalman is selected at blindside flanker in place of the injured Ned Hanigan, with Lukhan Tui cleared of a hamstring injury to play off the bench, and Matt Philip dropping out.

Tetera Faulkner and Henry Speight are joined on the bench by Taniela Tupou, two days after the 21-year-old became eligible for selection.

In brief

  • Australia have 21 wins to Scotland’s 10 since the sides first met in 1927
  • Scotland beat Australia 24-19 in Perth in June – their first win over the Wallabies in five years
  • The average winning margin between the sides over the last five matches is just three points

Rankings predictor

Australia can move up to 88.49 rating points if they win by more than 15 points. It is possible for Scotland to break into the top four for the first time since the rankings began in October 2003 if they win well, Ireland are soundly beaten and South Africa lose to Italy for the second year running.

IRELAND (4) v ARGENTINA (9)

Rory Best returns to captain an Ireland that includes debutant Adam Byrne on the right wing. At the other end of the experience scale, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton resume their half-back partnership while British and Irish Lions triumvirate Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien and CJ Stander return to the back-row.

Argentina head coach Daniel Houracde makes three changes to the side that beat Italy 31-15 in Florence. Tomas Lazana comes in at number eight for Juan Manuel Leguizamon, while in the backs Matias Moroni reaplaces Matias Orlando at outside centre and the more experienced Ramiro Moyano gets the nod over rookier wing Sebastian Cancelliere.

In brief

  • Ireland have won 10 of the 16 tests between the two nations
  • Argentina have yet to win in Dublin in seven previous outings
  • Nicolas Sanchez kicked 23 points in the record 43-20 win over Ireland at RWC 2015, the joint second highest tally in this fixture

Rankings predictor

Ireland do not stand to gain any reward due to there being over eight points difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in, but Argentina could overtake France even in defeat because a home loss to Japan would see Les Bleus’ points total dip below Argentina’s. A big win for Los Pumas, similar to the one they achieved over Ireland in Cardiff in the quarter-finals of RWC 2015, would be worth three full ratings points, boosting their tally to 81.22.

ITALY (13) v SOUTH AFRICA (5)

Angelo Esposito and flanker Giovanni Licata are the only changes to Italy’s starting XV as the Azzurri attempt to repeat last year’s historic victory over the Springboks in Padova. Zebre back-row Renato Giammarioli will win his first cap if he enters the fray from the bench.

Bongi Mbonambi will make his first start for the Springboks, while Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to the starting team for Saturday’s showdown. Furthermore, the uncapped Warrick Gelant has been included on the bench and will make his Springbok debut should he go onto the field of play during the match.

In brief

  • Last year’s 20-18 win in Florence was Italy’s first over South Africa in 13 attempts. It was also the first time the Azzurri had scored 20 points or more against the Springboks in 15 years
  • South Africa’s 101-0 win over Italy in 1999 is their third-highest score of all-time
  • Italy and South Africa have been drawn together in Pool B at RWC 2019

Rankings predictor

The only way South Africa can climb the rankings is if they win well and Ireland lose at home to Argentina, in which case they would move up one place to fourth. A beaten South Africa could drop two places to seventh if the result is combined with wins for Scotland and Wales.

For Italy, victory would be worth two whole rating points, but that still wouldn’t be enough for them to move up to 12th unless Georgia draw or lose at home to the USA.

FRANCE (8) v JAPAN (11)

France have made eight changes to their starting side that will face Japan, with Baptiste Serin named at scrum-half. Serin is joined at half-back by Francois Trinh-Duc with Teddy Thomas the only back to keep his place after last week’s 18-17 loss to South Africa.

Scott Spedding, debutant Gabriel Lacroix, World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2017 nominee Damian Penaud and Henry Chavancy also get a chance to impress Guy Noves, while a new-look second-row partnership features Romain Taofifenua and test newcomer Sekou Macalou.

Yutaka Nagare will run out in the No. 9 jersey with veteran scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka dropping to the bench. With flanker Shunsuke Nunomaki returning home as the result of injury, there is also one change on the bench with Yoshitaka Tokunaga coming into the 23-man squad.

Only three of the matchday squad - skipper Michael Leitch, Tanaka and Shota Horie - played the last time these sides met, at RWC 2011.

In brief

  • The sides have met three times in a test and nine times overall, France winning on every occasion
  • The last meeting at RWC 2011 ended in a 47-21 win for Les Bleus
  • It’s the battle of the next two Rugby World Cup host nations, after France were appointed 2023 hosts
  • The U Arena in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, hosts its first-ever international rugby match

Rankings predictor

A big win for Les Bleus is worth a fraction under half a point – not enough for them to climb any higher than their current standing of eighth, while Japan are safe in 11th due to the cushion of just over one-and-a-half points that they enjoy over Georgia. A big win for Japan combined with a defeat for Fiji against Canada would see the Brave Blossoms equal their historic high of ninth, set under Eddie Jones.

FIJI (10) v CANADA (21)

The introduction of Josua Tuisova on the right wing is one of seven changes made by Fiji head coach John McKee to the team that narrowly lost to Ireland in Dublin for this Saturday's clash against Canada in Narbonne.

Elsewhere in the backs, Vereniki Goneva will start at outside centre while Frank Lomani will wear the number nine jersey.

The changes in the forwards include captain Akapusi Qera shifting to number eight from openside with Semi Kunatani taking on that role. Peceli Yato will pair up with Leone Nakarawa in the second-row while Drua prop Kalivati Tawake will start at tight-head prop.

Canada are fresh off their first victory of the 2017 November international series, having come-from-behind to defeat Spain 37-27 in Madrid last weekend.

Ray Barkwill moves to the bench in favour of Benoit Piffero, while Newcastle Falcons prop Jake Ilnicki comes into the starting front row against Fiji on Saturday. Flankers Matt Heaton and Kyle Baillie have switched positions and will be joined by Kyle Gilmour at number eight.

Canada’s backline, which accounted for all 37 points in last weekend’s victory, remains unchanged and will be led by captain Phil Mack at scrum-half.

The match will be streamed live on worldrugby.org.

In brief

  • Fiji have seven wins to Canada’s three in the head-to-head
  • Canada’s last win in the fixture came in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2013 when they beat Fiji 20-18 in Ottawa
  • Fiji need five tries to reach 50 against Canada
  • Canada will play Fiji in Pool D at RWC 2019 if they qualify as Americas 2

Rankings predictor

A Fijian victory would not come with any reward, but they can still leapfrog France into ninth if Les Bleus lose. Canada would move back into the world’s top 20 with victory, above Spain.

GEORGIA (12) v USA (17)

Second-row Giorgi Chkhaidze will become the third Georgia player to reach 100 caps for his country, joining the first centurion Merab Kvirikashvili and David Kacharava in the elite club.

Chkhaidze is partnered by Kote Mikautadze in one of two changes to the pack that gave Wales a hard time in Cardiff last Saturday. The other comes in the back-row with Shalva Sutiashvili winning his 63rd cap.

In the backs, Revaz Jinchvelashvili will start at fly-half instead of Lasha Khamladze, while Giorgi Kveseladze is handed his first start at inside centre. Captain Merab Sharikadze will move to outside centre to accommodate him.

In anticipation of a tough forward battle, interim USA head coach Dave Hewitt has drafted in Samu Manoa and John Quill to his back-row. In the backs, Shaun Davies and AJ MacGinty are restored at half-back, while Ryan Matyas earns a place on the wing.

In brief

  • This is the sixth meeting between the sides in the last eight years
  • USA lead the head-to-head count with three wins to two
  • The Eagles’ previous two matches in Georgia were both two-point games, with one win apiece

Rankings predictor

With only eight-hundredths of a point on offer Georgia cannot move any higher than their current position of 12th. A big win away to a side ranked five places higher would take the USA Eagles to within under two tenths of Samoa. A heavy home loss could see Georgia slip three to 15th.

ROMANIA (14) v TONGA (15)

All four changes from Romania’s 17-13 win over Samoa come in the pack.

Alexandru Tarus packs down in the front-row alongside Mihaita Lazar and Andrei Radoi, while Johann van Heerden now has Valentin Poparlan for company in the second row. Cristi Chirica wins his third cap and first start at blindside as one of two changes to the back-row. At openside, Vlad Nistor replaces Mihai Macovei.

Tonga have made four changes, split evenly between backs and forwards, to the team beaten 39-6 by Japan. Halani Aulika makes way at tight-head for Paea Fa'anunu and in the back row Sione Kalamafoni is preferred to Daniel Faleafa. The new fly-half is George Taina, while Penikolo Latu comes in on the right wing for David Halaifonua.

In brief

  • Romania and Tonga each have one win apiece in the head-to-head
  • Both matches were settled by five points or less
  • Romania have won seven out of their last eight internationals
  • Tonga have lost three out of their last four tests 

Rankings predictor

Tonga could jump three places to 12th on the back of a two-point gain if they win well and Georgia and Italy fail to win at home to USA and South Africa respectively. A similar winning margin of more than 15 points for Romania would result in the home side moving up to 13th above great rivals Georgia if the Lelos suffer a shock defeat to USA.

NAMIBIA (22) v URUGUAY (18)

Namibia head coach Phil Davies has made wholesale changes to his forwards after the Welwitschias' pack came off second-best in the set-piece battle in Windhoek last Saturday.

Casper Viviers, Neil van Vuuren and Nelius Theron form an all-new front-row, while Tijuee Uuanuvi comes into the second row. Ruan Ludik and captain Rohan Kitshoff are the only two loose forwards to survive, with Johan Retief and Adriaan Booysen named at seven and eight respectively.

In the backs, Gino Wilson replaces David Philander on the left wing and Chrysander Botha lines up at full-back in preference to Johan Tromp.

Uruguay have chosen to make four changes, split evenly between backs and forwards.

Diego Ayala and Gonzalo Soto Mera are the new faces in the pack, while in the backline Agustin Ormaechea is given the nod at scrum-half and Gaston Gibernau gets a run on the left wing.

In brief

  • This is the second match of a two-test series between the sides, Uruguay having won 52-36 last weekend
  • The 52 points scored by Uruguay was the most against a fellow Tier Two nation
  • The only other previous meeting, in Montevideo in 2000, ended 23-12 to Los Teros

Rankings predictor

Victory for Namibia could be worth as many as 1.82 points, lifting them above Spain and into 21st place. The gap between themselves and Uruguay would be down to less than a point if they were to win well. It is not possible for Uruguay to move any higher than their current position of 18th.

Three other matches are taking place in Europe this weekend, with Germany (24) up against Chile (28) in Offenbach, Spain (20) facing Brazil (27) in Villajoyosa and Modova (41) at home to Switzerland (33) in the Rugby Europe Trophy.

While Spain cannot improve on their current position of 20th, it is possible for Brazil to reach a new all-time high in the rankings. Having equalled their previous best of 27th, thanks to last Saturday's maiden win on European soil against Belgium, a resounding victory over Spain could lift them as high as 24th if Germany fail to win at home against the USA.

A win for Chile would move them above Germany in the rankings, while a four-place rise to 37th is possible for Moldova if they beat Switzerland.

The World Rugby Rankings will update at 12:00 GMT on Monday.