At a glance
Codie Taylor credits a sitdown with his All Blacks coach a couple of years back for his emergence into one of New Zealand rugby’s genuine world-class performers.
The Crusaders and All Blacks hooker had already established himself as a quality backup and occasional alternative to the force of nature that was Dane Coles post2015.
But he wanted more, and the words of Steve Hansen ended up being the catalyst for a dramatic transformation that coincided with Coles’ descent into injury hell.
Now, as Super Rugby gets set for the 2019 season, it’s Taylor who occupies top spot on the Kiwi rugby hooker pecking order, and Coles who is chasing his standard as the Wellingtonian looks to leave his afflictions behind.
The 27-year-old 41-test hooker is assuredly at the peak of his powers as he prepares for this campaign that will see him make a strategically delayed entry into the Super Rugby arena somewhere around week three.
Not that you would know it. His approach remains refreshingly simple, and his bar set about as high as an Eliza McCartney record attempt, as he continues to embrace the mantra that has propelled him into the stratosphere of very best hookers in the international game, alongside South Africa’s Malcolm Marx and Ireland’s Rory Best.
‘‘I just want to be the best player on the park every game I play,’’ Taylor tells Stuff of his goal for 2019 which will feature him as a prominent part of two teams shooting for a hat-trick of major rugby championships.
Not the best in his position, or even on his team mind. But the best on the park. And not just in the big games that really matter, but every single time he runs out.
That’s Taylor to a tee. His laidback approach and easygoing countenance mask a killer attitude – one he says was forged in a tetea-tete with Hansen.
‘‘Two or three years ago I sat down with Steve and told him I needed a better vision. He said you need to set your bar high and just go for it. I feel like I’ve never looked back,’’ he says ahead of next week’s Super season kickoff.
‘‘I love having fun out there and doing my best whenever the ball comes my way. That’s all it is.’’
Taylor is in what you might call a good place ahead of this potentially defining rugby season. He’s just got married to the love of his life, Lucy, as the high point of a summer break he needed to clear the head and refocus the mind.
‘‘It was the best day, just amazing. We got married down in Wanaka, where my wife has family ties, and we shared a very special day,’’ he said.
‘‘The timing was good. When we got engaged we had to think about rugby, and with it being World Cup year it would be good to lock it down and then I can start focusing on what’s to come.’’
Taylor figures to be busy. He will be a centrepiece in the Crusaders’ quest for a Super Rugby title threepeat when he hits the field belatedly, and when that wraps up will assuredly take his place in the All Blacks as their first-choice No 2 when they look to make it three World Cups on the bounce.
‘‘It’s a long year,’’ he reflects. ‘‘Super Rugby is going right through and for me it’s about acknowledging there’s a nice wee trophy there to be won at the end, but first and foremost I want to play some really good footy for the Crusaders because that’s going to help me leading into higher honours.’’
He sees the big picture too, and the ‘‘managed’’ workloads for those likely to carry the brunt of the weight later in the year. He gets it, even if he might not necessarily like it.
‘‘As rugby players we want to be out there, but at the same time there are a few big things going on we have to manage correctly, and this is one way of doing it.’’
Of course the Crusaders, with their depth, culture and outstanding coaching, manage better than most. They have the last two titles on their mantle to show for it.
‘‘What we’ve taken out of the last couple of years is how much we rely on the depth of the squad. If you roll out the same boys every week, as well as putting a lot of fatigue on their bodies you’re also not giving anyone else any experience.
‘‘That’s been a big part of how we’ve achieved what we have.’’
Taylor has been a big part of what both the Crusaders and All Blacks have achieved of late. Every year he’s broadened his game and his skill range, and now he’s as happy roaming wide, running into holes and slipping offloads as he is smashing rucks, throwing lineout darts and setting scrums.
He took time over his summer to reflect on a ‘‘fun’’ 2018 in which he followed a gilt-edged campaign with the Crusaders by starting all 12 tests he ticked off with the All Blacks, and emerging as one of their premier performers (shortlisted for New Zealand rugby’s player of the year gong).
‘‘I know this year is going to be a huge challenge, and I’ve got a clear plan on where I want to go. It’s about keeping getting better because if I sit where I am it’s not going to help me.
‘‘We all have positions but I’m a believer that we can try everything,’’ he adds of his broadening repertoire. ‘‘That was my mindset in 2018 – give everything a crack and hone in on my skillset. If you can be anywhere and do anything, it’s got to help your game.’’
You ask him about the expected challenge from his good mate Coles for the top spot.
A smile crosses his face. ‘‘He’s a world-class player, we play the same position, and we’re going to have to both be on our game if we want to be out there.’’ Weekend fixtures:
❚ Tomorrow 3.15 am: Scotland v Ireland
❚ Tomorrow 5.45am: Italy v Wales
❚ Monday 4am: England v France
‘‘I love having fun out there and doing my best whenever the ball comes my way. That’s all it is.’’
Codie Taylor