Codie Taylor wary of galvanised Wallabies

Despite being diminished in strength due to player suspensions, the Wallabies could potentially be even harder to crack in Saturday’s first Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Auckland.

That is the word from New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor, who said the suspension of three Australian players for a breach of team protocols was dangerous for the All Blacks because the Wallabies were likely to show they were still unified with a lift in performance.

“These things happen, I think they’re still going to bring the same level of confidence they always have, no matter what Aussie team runs out they always back themselves,” he told the All Blacks’ official website.

Taylor said there had been a step-up in the squad during the week’s preparation, and while there was some uncertainty over what lay ahead, that was removed when it was announced two Tests would be played at Eden Park.

“It’s a hell of a stadium to play at and it’s a challenge for us to go there and play two games in a row against a team that is probably pretty confident,” he said.

Closing stages will be crucial

Being a Bledisloe Cup game, it would be tough, and, like any big game, it was likely to come down to the last 10 minutes before a winner was apparent.

“After some of our performances last year against Aussie, they’ll be pretty confident that they can come and play really well here, so for us, it is just focusing on what we want to do on the field and bringing that intensity that is needed to have another opportunity to lift that Cup,” he added.

Taylor said his Crusaders team-mate prop George Bower, who will start his first big Test at loosehead, had settled into the side. He was keen to absorb all he could, and the simpler he made things, the better he played.

“He’s really stepped his game up in that physical part of it, his defence and ball carrying ability, and his scrummaging, has been unreal to date and I think he should be pretty confident in his ability to just go out there and back himself,” he explained.

“He’s probably one of the fittest props I’ve ever met, he’s got a good bronco time and his charisma off the field, he’s a good man. He debuted a bit later in his career but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to learn and absorb as much as he can to make him a better player.”