All Blacks: Taylor ready to take chance

Codie Taylor has enjoyed a rapid rise to the All Blacks. Photo / Brett Phibbs

For a player who didn't get into rugby until he was 11, and then had a long Super Rugby apprenticeship before finally nailing a regular starting spot at the Crusaders, Codie Taylor's progress at the All Blacks has been comparatively supersonic.

The 24-year-old, who scored a try on his test debut on his home ground in Christchurch against Argentina in July, has been a minor revelation with his performances since against South Africa and Australia - all of which have come off the reserves bench.

He is third in the All Black hooking pecking order behind Dane Coles and Keven Mealamu, and will overtake Mealamu once he retires at the end of the year. In the meantime Taylor has the perfect role models - Coles the rapid improver (to the point where he is probably the best hooker in the world) and Mealamu the veteran campaigner who has seen it all before.

The 28-year-old Coles in particular will be an important figure for Taylor because he has shown what is possible once you reach the demanding yet nurturing All Black environment. The pair are similar players - quick and skilful without compromising on their core set piece roles.

"Colesy is probably up there as the world's best hooker at the moment," Taylor said. "He's playing some outstanding rugby. I think we play a pretty similar game. Obviously we both love carrying the ball. He's great at lineout and scrum time so he's doing everything he can. If I get the opportunity to play hopefully I'll do the same.

"He and Kevvy have both offered a lot of knowledge to help me out. It's just the nature of the All Blacks. I don't see Colesy or Kevvy as a threat to me getting game time, I see them as players who can help me."

Taylor, one of four children, was a baby when he moved with his parents from Levin to Queensland as they sought out new opportunities. Once there he got into the league scene, playing for the Chambers Flat Mustangs based near the town of Marsden, where the family lived. The Taylors returned when he was 11 and that's when he got into the XV-player game which involved changing from the "big kid running around" to learning about rucks.

He moved to the Crusaders after representing the New Zealand Under-20s as the won the 2011 Junior World Championship, forming an immediate rivalry with junior representative teammate Ben Funnell behind veteran Corey Flynn. Now Flynn has gone but the friendly rivalry with Funnell has continued, with Taylor saying it was frustrating at times having to play second or third string.

"Last year and the year before it was frustrating at times," he said. "Todd Blackadder has always said to me 'you'll get an opportunity and it will be at the right time' and I probably didn't want to listen to that, but now, looking back, he was probably right. With Benny there, we're pretty much the same age and he's a great player. He deserves to be an All Black as much as anyone else. On the back of his hard work that he puts in, and the competitiveness we have together, luckily enough I'm here."

Taylor credits the nine All Blacks in the Crusaders for making his move to the top level a smooth one.

"You've got a lot of familiar faces that I've played with all year. Reado and Ricko, the two leaders in the All Blacks, have always watched over me at Super Rugby level - giving me tips and helping me out. And there are young fellas who I played with in the Under-20s - seeing them get their chance in 2012 made me work harder as well. Familiar faces and just knowing that you have the best in the world beside you takes a lot of pressure off."

He will make new memories here at the World Cup, but his first test against the Pumas at AMI Stadium in front of his mum and dad will remain an enduring one.

"To get out there in front of my home crowd in Canterbury was pretty special and hearing the crowd roar was awesome."