Bledisloe Cup 2013 Game 2: New Zealand vs. Australia Date, Start Time, Preview

New Zealand’s dominance of Bledisloe Cup proceedings over the course of the last decade has been so decisive that Australian minds must have dragged way past the stage of weariness at this point.

Following Australia’s 47-29 defeat at the ANZ Stadium last weekend, that crumbling record looks likely only to worsen when the two teams meet once again, this time in Wellington.

A game that will impact not just rugby’s largest trophy but also whether the All Blacks can maintain last year’s perfect 6-0 record in the Rugby Championship, there’s a lot of pride on the line for both Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie’s men.

Speaking to Georgina Robinson of the Sydney Morning Herald, All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg explained just what it is that allows his team to maintain such consistency as New Zealand search for their 11th consecutive Bledisloe Cup:

"

I hate losing. I just want to do my best, the Bledisloe means so much for us and I guess it means so much for Australia, that's why there's such a big contest. I guess we just don't want to be the team that loses it, so I want to really give it my all.

"

It’s a notion that permeates throughout the entire team. Despite all of New Zealand’s physical talents, it’s in the mental that they’re arguably at their strongest, visible from the beginning of the pre-match Haka until the final whistle.

However, the Wallabies will have their tails up after such an embarrassing loss on home soil. There’s a lot to be said for a team with nothing to lose, and after the summer this Australia side has had, that’ll be their exact mentality.

Where: WestPac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand

When: Saturday Aug. 24 at 19:35 p.m.NZST/08:35 a.m.BST/03:35 a.m. ET

Watch: Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (AUS)

Live Stream: SkyGo (Subscription required)

New Zealand Player to Watch: Ben Smith

Last week, Ben Smith was one of three namesakes to help dramatically in turning the tide against Australia, with Conrad and Aaron also doing more than their share of the groundwork.

For the last year or so, the 27-year-old has been as prolific as ever in going about his his international business, evident in his hat-trick display last weekend, which effectively won the match for his side.

Matched opposite James O’Connor, now shifted out to the wing by McKenzie, Smith was able to get the better of his man on multiple occasions and Australia’s left flank frankly took a pounding.

Once more this weekend, it looks to be Ben Smith’s wing that the All Blacks will look to make the business side of things.

Given his position and reputation at the Highlanders, it’s obvious that Smith has bags of pace in his arsenal, but the 27-year-old’s strength is what really came to the fore in this year’s first Bledisloe meeting.

Fortunately, the graft put in by the likes of Aaron Cruden and Conrad Smith last week made things far easier for Smith in the enemy’s 22, but Smith still kept a calm head in his finishing and will be expected to do so again this Saturday.

Australia Player to Watch: Will Genia

If Australia are to have any chance of overturning the current trend of New Zealand’s Bledisloe Cup batterings, the Wallabies will need their stars to shine brightest in the second game of the series, something Will Genia didn’t quite do last week.

Despite scoring a breakout try from well inside his own half last week, it was Aaron Smith who generally won the battle of the half-backs, benefitting greatly from the quick ball he could deliver with the counter.

Genia’s efforts this week will be to ensure his own players can bring their talents to the fore, helping Matt Toomua mesh into the international setup.

Genia and Toomua’s relationship will only be in its infancy right now, but the All Blacks’ pedigree will demand that the pair develop a fluidity well beyond what was on display last week.

In turn, Christian Lealiifano, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Jesse Mogg will all benefit greatly, helping the Wallabies towards their goal in the process.

That’s not to say Genia, largely regarded as one of the best scrum-halves in the game, can’t continue to express his own individual flair, but playing New Zealand at their own game of quick counter-attack ball could be essential.

Key Matchup: Tom Taylor vs. Matt Toomua

As was announced by ABC News via Twitter, Matt Toomua’s  performance in Game One of the Rugby Championship was enough to see him retain his spot for the second encounter:

Instead, Quade Cooper will have to continue his international anguish from the bench, with a return start for the Queensland Red still just a hope at this point.

However, Toomua can be happier in the fact that he goes up an even less experienced opposite number this week, following injuries to Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett last weekend.

Tom Taylor steps in for his international debut ahead of Colin Slade, who was expected to fill in at No.10, much to the surprise of some critiquing Hansen’s choices.

Although the prodigious pair look set to enjoy very fruitful careers in the years to come, Saturday’s result could rest solely on which of the two comes out on top of this particular clash.

Prediction: New Zealand 34-31 Australia