New Zealand vs Australia live streaming rugby game

New Zealand vs Australia

Venue: Eden Park Stadium, Auckland

Date: 18 July, 2009

Time: 7:35 GMT, 17:35 AEST

BROADCAST DETAILS
Sky Sports 2 (08:30-11:00)

Australia captain Stirling Mortlock will have a simple message for his players during the Tri-Nations opener against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

"Keep on keeping on," Mortlock told reporters at the team hotel in Auckland on Friday.

After the bitter rivals split their first two Bledisloe Cup encounters with one-sided victories, Australia held second-half leads in both Brisbane and Hong Kong before the All Blacks stormed home to win the matches 28-24 and 19-14.

"I have been lucky to play a lot of Bledisloe matches and they are extremely tough battles that go the full distance," Mortlock said.

"You can't be happy with having a lead, you have to back yourself for the full 80, and hopefully we'll get it done."

Mortlock said he had noticed a considerable change in his side from the one that came to Eden Park almost 12 months ago and were comprehensively thrashed 39-10, a week after smashing the All Blacks 34-19 in Sydney.

"I just the think the nucleus of the squad have grown a lot," he said.

"Our understanding and clarity about what we're trying to achieve has improved and that shows in our training, mentality and I guess probably in the confidence the guys have in each other as well.

"It's all about building. Robbie (Deans) is big on us keeping on moving forward."