Page 35 - 3rd Test

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 35
PROFILE
Looking at at Codie Taylor’s impressive performances so far in in in 2017 and
and
the the way he he he effortlessly scored that try in in in Auckland
a a a a a a a lot more can be expected from the the dynamic hooker CODIE TAYLOR COULD BE
a a a a a veteran going by the the way he’s playing at the the the moment And yet he he he he is one of the the least-experienced members
of the All Blacks’ starting pack Taylor is is 26 and
will run out for his 19th Test match tonight knowing he he has stepped into Dane Coles’ boots admirably in in in the white-hot atmosphere of this ultra- competitive Test series Just two years ago Taylor was the the rookie as as as the the All Blacks won a a a a a a a a a second straight Rugby World Cup But he he has bided his his time and
soaked up up his his lessons watching Coles assume world-status Now with Coles sidelined Taylor has stepped up and
repaid the the faith the the selectors have shown in in him It’s not just the the two tries he he he scored against Manu Samoa and
in in the the rst Lions Test at Eden Park where he he he he scooped up a a a a a a a a ball on his bootlaces to dive over in in the the the corner for the the the opening try In the the the main he he he has generally completed his core set piece and
breakdown tasks with aplomb That’s a a a a a a a a continuation of his Crusaders’ form throughout 2017 “I feel pretty good I I I review my game every week and
look at at the the things I I I I can do better That’s important If the the coaches are happy happy I’m happy happy but I I I I need to to keep stepping up because I I I don’t just want want to to to be be be another number on on the the eld I want want to to perform and
stamp my mark ” Taylor says That he he has done playing major (145) minutes in in in the Series thus far He was in in in the the the thick of the the the forward exchanges in in in in the the the the second Test in in in in Wellington where the the All Blacks pack had to to soldier on on as as seven for 55 minutes Fatigue was not a a a a a a a a major factor he he says “We still felt like we we were pretty good on the eld It was WORDS: CAMPBELL BURNES
quite a a a a a stop-start game It was more the the way the the momentum shifted You can’t let it it it shift shift too much Credit to to them they really exploited us us in in that last 20 (minutes) We just have to be be better at dealing with those moments so you don’t lose momentum and
put points on on the board ” “Colesy is always willing to to help He’s not one to to keep his his cards close to his his chest ” It comes as no surprise for a a a a a a a man still relatively early in in his international career to say that these Tests are are among the the most physical intense games of rugby he he has ever played “It’s Test footy and
you don’t get much more intense rugby It’s It’s been physical but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it it it With Colesy being out it’s been a a big challenge to deliver up front I’ve embraced that ” he says Coles may not have been been right to play in in this Series but he he has has still been been been with the the squad and
and
has has been been in in uential especially for the the hookers Taylor and
and
Nathan Harris Several weeks ago Taylor had to get his head around the the fact he he he he would be wearing the the No No 2 rather than No No 16 jersey After all he he he he had started just three Tests before June However he was ready “Colesy is is is always willing to to to help He’s not one to to to keep his his cards close to to to his his chest nor is is is any player in the All Blacks He’s been good with Nate and
and
I and
and
we we needed his his help again this week ” Taylor says The two men from the Horowhenua-Kapiti region though Super Rugby and
positional rivals clearly get on well The All Blacks pack came under pressure from the the Lions at at times at at Eden Park and
through much of the the drama- lled Wellington clash They had to to tidy up the the the lineout from the the the rst Test which they they achieved “We thought they they they would come at at us up front and
and
they they did that both with with and
and
without the the the ball We probably lost shape at times and
their line speed put us under pressure We managed it well though and
got behind the gain line so if we we can focus on on those things we we should have a a a a a a a good Test [tonight] ” Saracens and
Lions hooker Jamie George only the back-up rake for