Refreshed Taylor set to hook back into action
Refreshed All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor hopes his six-month break will shorten his odds of playing at the next Rugby World Cup.
When the 33-year-old activated the sabbatical clause in his New Zealand Rugby contract he had the choice of a lucrative gig overseas or a home-based break.
While other World Cup All Blacks said “sayonara’’, Taylor decided to stay in Christchurch with his family and feels it was the right move longer term.
Now, the “little nervous but really excited’’ front rower is back with the Crusaders for arguably the biggest South Island derby of his career.
Taylor bolsters the Crusaders front row for tonight’s clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin, with victory vital to the hopes of having two Te Wai Pounamu teams in the playoffs.
“It’s been an awesome break, I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to have some time off and spend it with family.
“But at the same time, I’ve been watching the boys pretty closely and it’s obviously been tough.’’
It has been painful for a 12-year Crusader with seven Super Rugby rings to watch the 2024 team teeter near the bottom of the table, but Taylor remained determined to stick to his sabbatical course.
“Back end of the World Cup I had already made up my mind I was going to have some time off. The whole idea of it was to freshen up and have some quality time with the family, and, hopefully, extend my career.
“The idea of potentially going to another World Cup is an exciting one, especially after falling just a little bit short last year.’’
Nor was he tempted to return early despite the Crusaders’ travails.
“The idea was to step away as much as possible or else it wouldn’t have felt much like a break ... so I did that, and feel better for it.
“When you’ve got three kids at home, it’s really easy to get distracted.”
Taylor felt lucky to have had the sabbatical clause in his contract, saying “the sole reason was to either go overseas and chase a bit of money or have a genuine break’’.
“I’m very happy that I chose a break because hopefully that means I can play a little bit longer.’’
Back in full training for three weeks, Taylor would be happy to “get 40 or so minutes’’ at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
He expects he will be “blowing’’ at some point because ‘‘you can’t really replicate the pressure ... or the fitness either’’.
While head coach Rob Penney has been careful not to heap too much pressure on Tayor and fellow All Black returnee Tamaiti Williams, Crusaders fans will be hoping the veteran hooker’s skill and leadership will inspire improvements in two key areas.
The Crusaders’ lineout has been the second-worst in the competition with a 79% success rate and defending the driving maul – traditionally a Crusaders strength – has been less clinical this term.
Taylor admitted conceding tries in driving mauls was “something we take personally. It’s been a massive part of the identity of this team for a long time”.
Having Taylor in the same pack as captain Scott Barrett – cleared of a lower back niggle sustained in last week’s loss to the Reds – adds exponentially to the Crusaders’ leadership quotient.
“I’ve always had the mindset that when I got back to bring a lot of energy and hopefully a lot of effort on the field,” Taylor said. “That’s all I can do, really, and make sure I’m accurate when I need to be.”
Forwards coach Dan Perrin said Taylor was bouncing around the place and he felt his “energy and his experience will be fantastic for the group’’.
The 10th-placed Crusaders must win all their remaining three games to nail a topeight berth after two wins and eight losses, while the seventh-ranked Highlanders (four wins/six losses) will want to boost their own playoffs ambitions.
Taylor first played in a derby in 2013 and ratestoday’s “up there’’ as “one of the biggest ... given the occasion and what’s at stake’’.
“Every game from here is pretty much a final for us. I’d like to think that as Crusaders we relish pressure and finals footy. That’s our mindset going into it.
“We are well aware of the repercussions if we don’t win.”