'I'm obviously here for a reason': Codie Taylor reflects on second chance

The selection of Codie Taylor at hooker for New Zealand’s rematch with Australia this weekend may have raised a few eyebrows.

While Samisoni Taukei’aho, the man he’s replaced in the No 2 jersey, has been an exceptional performer for the All Blacks this season and was named player of the match following last week’s victory over the Wallabies, Taylor has struggled to find his form throughout the campaign.

His entry off the bench against Argentina in Christchurch last month coincided with a sharp downwards turn in fortunes for the All Blacks, with the Pumas eventually claiming an historic 25-18 victory, and the 31-year-old was subsequently left out of the team’s two most recent fixtures, a revenge victory over Argentina and then last week’s success in Melbourne.

Head coach Ian Foster has shown considerable faith in the seasoned veteran, however, reinstating him to the starting line-up for this Saturday’s crucial Bledisloe Cup skirmish, with the All Blacks likely needing a sizeable bonus-point victory to secure the Rugby Championship.

Taylor acknowledged this week that while his last showing in black was perhaps not up to the standard he demanded from himself and it took some time to mentally recover, he’s now well and truly ready to make an impact against the Wallabies at Eden Park.

“It was awesome to be named again,” Taylor said on Thursday. “Obviously, my last Test wasn’t great. Well, it wasn’t a great result for the team. I was pretty disappointed with myself and my performance as well.

“It probably took a while to get over that, to be honest. [The break from playing] was a good chance for me to reset and talk to some people who I needed to talk to and just have a good look at who I am and why I do this.

“I still love it and I think at the end of the day, I’m a rugby player, I want to be out there and I get another crack this week. All going well, I’m just going to go out there and enjoy myself.”

Taylor worked with a number of staff within the All Blacks environment over the past few weeks but noted that the support of his family and friends has been key, while the coaching group have also played a significant role in getting him back to his best ahead of Saturday’s clash.

“We’ve got people in this environment that help you with [the mental side of things] and you go back to the people that you trust and you love,” he said. “They’re always there in your corner and you draw off their energy and what they’re saying.

“And also, the coaches are awesome. I know these coaches really well now and I’ve got a lot of faith. I’m obviously here for a reason so I’ve just got to trust myself and go out there and have fun.”

With Taylor elevated to starting rake, Taukei’aho has dropped to the bench, where he’ll be expected to make a big contribution in the final half-hour as the All Blacks chase that clutch bonus point. All going to plan, however, NZ will be well on their way to achieving that goal before Taylor departs the park.

When the 71-Test hooker does take his leave, it could be the last time that Taylor walks off the hallowed turf at the Garden of Eden, with the All Blacks not set to play any matches in Auckland next year – then again, nothing is guaranteed. It will be up to Taylor to prove to the selectors over the next 18 months that he can foot it with the best and is still good enough to feature at the Rugby World Cup – and possibly beyond. Fellow senior hooker Dane Coles is still also contributing, after all, at the ripe old age of 34.

Saturday’s match is set to kick off at 7:05pm NZT.