Taylor no longer walks in Coles’ shadow
It’s a stretch to say Codie Taylor was ever in awe of Dane Coles.
But, four years Coles’ junior, Taylor grew up just a short drive from his fellow hooker, both cutting their rugby teeth with the small Horowhenua-Kapiti union. Coles was a player who inspired respect within Taylor and someone he was eager to learn from when they eventually became All Blacks team-mates in 2015.
At that stage, Coles was establishing himself as one of the better all-round players in world rugby. In more recent times, though, it’s Taylor who has spent the bulk of the time in the All Blacks’ No 2 jersey.
Coles’ injury problems since 2016 are well documented, as is Taylor’s progression from a promising to polished performer.
Saturday, against Australia in Yokohama, is likely to mark Coles’ first All Blacks’ action since November last year, when he ruptured knee ligaments against France in Paris. He remains a member of the team’s senior leadership group and has been around the squad all year, but there is a difference between what happens in meeting rooms or on the training paddock.
The All Blacks are a team in the process of evolving their game, which means changes for the relationship between Taylor and Coles too. Gone, therefore, are the days when the boy from Levin took his cues from the senior pro from down in Paraparaumu.
‘‘I came into the [All Blacks’] mix in 2015 and he has always been unreal to me,’’ Taylor said of Coles yesterday.
‘‘I was just a sponge and took as much knowledge as I could from him and Kevvy [Keven Mealamu] and stuff. I suppose with him being out for the amount of time he has, the role may have changed a little, just because we’ve tried to change our game a little bit in the All Blacks and he wants to learn all that.
‘‘It’s a great chance for me to give that back to him and, when he gets his chance, he’ll be ready to go.’’
You would assume Taylor will start against the Wallabies, with perhaps a 20-minute role for Coles off the bench. That appears as if it will be the order of things until Coles can prove he is durable and sharp enough to warrant a starting berth.
First, though, the 31-year-old has got to try and get through this tour.
He has had just 56 minutes of football this season, spread across two appearances for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup. Players get confidence from knowing they’ve done the work and, while Coles has been dedicated to his rehab over the past 11 months, there’s no substitute for playing.
‘‘I think he’s probably a little bit nervous, just being out for so long. But Dane’s Dane, he’s going to bring a bit of edge and get out there and be excited,’’ All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock said.
Coles is so excited to be playing again that he’s actually done quite a lot of mental work on trying to remain calm and not let white-line fever overwhelm him.
The edge Whitelock mentioned has always been a strength of Coles’, but this trip is more about being accurate and building a firm base again . . . not to mention learning from the new incumbent.
‘‘It’s a great chance for me to give that back to him and, when he gets his chance, he’ll be ready to go.’’
Codie Taylor on Dane Coles