Preview: New Zealand v Australia

New Zealand and Australia will resume hostilities in Dunedin on Saturday in what promises to be another fascinating Bledisloe Cup encounter.

These sides got this year's Rugby Championship underway in Sydney last weekend and although the Wallabies were on home turf, they could not upset the applecart as the All Blacks claimed a 54-34 victory to extend their unbeaten run against their trans-Tasman rivals to six matches.

The All Blacks' dominance in those six matches have seen them averaging 40 points per game and they have been particularly impressive when facing the Wallabies in New Zealand.

The last time the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in New Zealand was in 2001 and since then, they have lost 20 such fixtures.

The Wallabies will be hoping to build on their second-half performance in Sydney as they finished that match as the stronger side and outscored their opponents 28-14 after the world champions led 40-6 at half-time.

Australia's second-half fightback was impressive but their defence is a concern for their head coach Michael Cheika who said he has already put last week's Test behind him and is looking forward to an improved effort this weekend.

“Obviously you come from disappointment but if you live in the past too much (that won’t help),” he said.

“We've got to get the things that we need to improve on and keep the things that we did well and bring them into this game and get into it.

“That's all we can do is get it on the field.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said reviewing the final 30 minutes of last weekend's Test – when the team had lost shape, defensive effectiveness and the teamwork that had marked the first 50 minutes – had been 'quite handy' and had 'brought people back to Earth'.

Most of Australia's teams failed to make the play-offs in Super Rugby which meant several players in the Wallaby squad had been sidelined for a long period of time.

With the Sydney Test now behind them, Hansen expects the Wallabies to offer his troops a sterner test this weekend.

"You need to be able to play the game," he said.

"To be able to play with the intensity and pace that Test level brings you've got to be able to play. They'll be a lot sharper of mind and body, they'll be desperate because things in Australia…there's a lot of negativity and one of their responsibilities is to try and put some smiles on some faces.

"They'll be hurting so that will make them even hungrier than they have been and they know that if they don't get it right this week then there's the Bledisloe gone. They'll be a very dangerous beast."

This Test will be a momentous one for All Blacks skipper Kieran Read as he is set to make his 95th start for his country which will put him joint fourth for the All Blacks in this department – with Mils Muliaina – behind Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Tony Woodcock.

It will also be Ben Smith's last Test of 2017 before having a recovery break until the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Players to watch:

For New Zealand: One man who has taken to the Test arena like the proverbial duck to water is Blues flyer Rieko Ioane and his selection on the left wing has justified All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's decision to leave Julian Savea out of his Rugby Championship squad. Ioane repaid Hansen's faith in him by scoring two tries in Sydney last weekend. The 20-year-old has now scored five tries in as many Tests but his game is not just about crossing the whitewash as he is also a good playmaker who also provides chances for his team-mates. The Wallabies will have to keep a close eye on him as he could wreak havoc if he finds himself in space.

For Australia: There will be lots of pressure on second-row Rob Simmons who returns to the run-on side after impressing off the replacements bench in Sydney. Simmons has had a poor season by his standards and this Test presents him with an opportunity to silence his critics. Simmons will also be keen to prove that he still has plenty to offer to Australian rugby after he was discarded by the Reds at the end of this year's Super Rugby campaign. The 28-year-old's lineout work and general play against the All Blacks will be under scrutiny and impressive efforts in those facets of play could help his stocks to rise in his bid to find a new Super Rugby home in Australia.

Head-to-head: The duel between the openside flankers will be crucial as both All Blacks tearaway Sam Cane and Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper are important cogs in their respective teams' wheels. Both know they will have to be at the top of their game especially at the breakdowns and whoever finishes on top in that department should also be on the winning side at the end of this Test.

Previous results:

2017: New Zealand won 54-34 in Sydney
2016: New Zealand won 37-10 in Auckland
2016: New Zealand won 29-9 in Wellington
2016: New Zealand won 42-8 in Sydney
2015: New Zealand won 34-17 at Twickenham
2015: New Zealand won 41-13 in Auckland
2015: Australia won 27-19 in Sydney
2014: New Zealand won 29-28 in Brisbane

Prediction: Although the Wallabies will put up another brave fight, the All Blacks will cruise to another easy victory. New Zealand to win by 16 points.

The teams:

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Thomas Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Sean McMahon, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio 
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Curtis Rona

Date: Saturday, August 26
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)