Rugby: Close call motivates Taylor

Hurricanes fullback Andre Taylor was one more injury away from being called up to last week's All Blacks training camp. Photo / Getty Images.

Hurricanes fullback Andre Taylor was one more injury away from being called up to last week's All Blacks training camp and he says being so close to the national set-up serves as motivation for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a breakout campaign with the over-achieving Hurricanes and sits alone atop the Super Rugby try-scoring chart with 10 touchdowns this year.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said recently that Hosea Gear was taken ahead of Taylor to fill Cory Jane's spot in the wider training group for the second camp and on that logic you can see how close the former Palmerston North Boys' High School student was to getting a taste of the All Blacks' environment.

Being close to the squad wasn't enough for Taylor and the custodian said he was disappointed to not be involved. It seems unlikely he will be one of Hansen's 30 when the All Blacks' supremo names his squad on Sunday to meet Ireland in three tests this month.

"Initially I was. I thought I'd done enough but obviously not. But I got over that pretty quickly and focused on the next game and I'm going away working on the work-ons that I need to and still trying to play some good footy," Taylor said.

"It's just good to know I'm in the picture. There's still this weekend and there could be injuries and things like that so I've just got to concentrate on my game for the Hurricanes and then if I do get called in I'll be excited."

Taylor's form has been one of the major talking points of a Hurricanes side who have played beyond expectations this season, while fellow young tyro TJ Perenara has made plenty of big plays from halfback.

After debuting for Manawatu as an 18-year-old schoolboy in 2006, Taylor has long been pinpointed for big things but is only just starting to realise his potential in his third season with the Wellington-based franchise.

He said his breakthrough year was a combination of little things and the opportunity to pull on the No 15 jumper every week rather than switching between the wing and the bench.

"I think I've had to take more of a leadership role in the team ... I like to show it out on the field and I think the boys are seeing that and feeding off that so I think it's just given me a bit more confidence as well.

"Last year I didn't get much game time. I was on here and there and filling in for injuries but this year I've gained the starting spot at fullback so regular game time always helps."

This weekend the ninth-placed Hurricanes meet the Waratahs in Sydney and need another victory to keep their outside chances of stealing a finals berth alive.

The Waratahs have lost five games straight and have returned from a trip to South Africa but Taylor said the New South Welshmen would provide a tough ask on Saturday night.

"They'll come out firing and of course being at home will motivate them to play so I think they'll come out with some running rugby and try and win the game."

Following this weekend's round of fixtures Super Rugby takes a three-week break due to the international window and although Taylor would seem a likely choice to play in the upcoming North-South game he said he was yet to hear about it.