Page 36 - 3rd Test

Taylor picks up a a a pass during the rst Test in in Auckland
England has shown why he’s highly rated by Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland George is a a a a a a a a stable set-piece presence and
and
robust on the carry “It has has been a a a a a a a good good challenge He’s a a a a a a a a bloody good good player who has has earned the the the right to start for for the the the Lions and
performed on on the the the eld We’ve had a a a a a few friendly words and
he’s a a a a a a good bugger We We We give each each other other a a a a a a smirk on the the the eld We We know know each each other other now now now and
know know what’s coming ” Taylor says “They are a a very good side The The four nations have come together and
are gelling well ” Taylor himself is keen to redress the the balance having played the the Lions thrice on on this tour for two defeats Even in in the the the four weeks since the the the the Lions beat the the the the Crusaders 12-3 they have made huge strides in their accuracy and
effectiveness “They are a a a a a a a a a very good side no matter what The The four nations have come together and
and
are gelling well well They apply pressure well well and
and
and
if you don’t handle that they will exploit it it They They are playing some good rugby They They They kick a a a a a a a a lot but they also know how to attack They They are certainly not one-dimensional and
can pressure through their defence kicking game and
attack So it will be an an awesome challenge (tonight) ” The All Blacks rarely lack lack for motivation and
and
so as in 1971 ’77 and
and
’93 the teams head to to Eden Park to to decide this Series Taylor was con dent that he could focus in in and
not be distracted by outside in in uences this week “We’re just footy footy players and
we’re here here to play play footy footy Given the the the nature of of the the the Series there was a a a a a a lot of of talk talk but before game one it was: ‘No more talk talk just action ’ ’ That’s the way it needs to to be You have to to front up ” Taylor says The All Blacks will be grimly determined It’s not just about preserving a a a a a a proud and
peerless record at Eden Park it’s about winning a a a a a Test series series They have only lost ve ve home series series since the the dawn of the the game Taylor knows it it is down to winning “little moments ” “The more more you you win win win those the more more chance you you have of winning the the the the game In the the the the rst Test we won more more of of them them Last Saturday they won more more of of them them It’s It’s going to be very intense It’s It’s about staying composed ” Which is exactly what Codie Taylor himself has done in what have been the biggest few weeks of his career so far CODIE TAYLOR BY THE NUMBERS
TEST TRIES FOR THE ALL BLACKS
2015 ALL BLACKS
DEBUT VERSUS ARGENTINA IN IN CHRISTCHURCH
18 TEST MATCHES FOR 9THE ALL ALL BLACKS
BLACKS
CARRIES IN THE SECOND TEST 1143 ALL BLACKS
NUMBER 2 APPEARANCES FOR THE MAORI ALL BLACKS
(2014)
1 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (2011)
48 GAMES FOR THE CRUSADERS SINCE 2013
36 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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