'No brainer': Former All Blacks debate Codie Taylor's starting role

Three former All Blacks have discussed whether stand-in captain Codie Taylor deserves a starting spot in the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry Tour against South Africa.

Taylor, an All Black centurion, has been given the role of “tour captain” and will lead Dave Rennie’s side in all of the off-field roles until Ardie Savea returns to the frame ahead of the first Test.

But there are still question marks from some whether, on form, Taylor deserves a starting spot over the likes of Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua and Chiefs enforcer Samisoni Taukei’aho.

Taylor started all three games in the Nations Championship under Rennie, with Aumua coming off the bench against both France and Ireland, with Taukei’aho picking up some minutes against Italy.

Debating the hooker selection on The Breakdown, Mils Muliaina, Jeff Wilson, and James Parsons weighed up the options.

Muliaina, who played 100 Tests for the All Blacks, believes that Taylor is the frontrunner, despite the form of the other three hookers.

“I mean, he’s been pretty solid in those performances that he has had. He’s a big leader, but again, we’ve got different types of players,” the former All Black said on The Breakdown.

“You know, when you look at Aumua and the season he’s had, and then Taukei’aho, and that’s hanging around as well.

“So I like that mix for Codie and the other guys as well. It’s competition, and it’s great competition.”

Parsons agrees with Muliaina on the tough competition between the hookers, and pinpoints a different reason why Taylor may get the nod.

“It’ll bring the best out of Codie, and he’ll rise to that. But I actually really like the role of what I saw from Asafo Aumua off the bench.

“Like, I think that plays into his game, even though he got that 50 minutes, he was still able to explode into that Irish test. Where I think it gets challenging is if there are niggles. You know, it’s more Samisoni Taukei’aho; he’s had one of his strongest seasons.

“I think it is one of those hard decisions for Rennie.”

When asked about what the former hooker thinks Rennie will do, Parsons said it’s a “no-brainer”.

“Yeah, I mean that’s clear. I think he’s [Taylor] Rennie’s guy. It’s like a pressure cooker environment in Johannesburg at Ellis Park. He’s played over 100 tests. It’s just a no-brainer.”

Wilson explained that Taylor’s experience in 2022 under Ian Foster will leave him in good stead for this four-Test, eight-game tour of South Africa.

“Look, I’m with [Parsons] on that 100%. He was there in 2022 when they had to step up, in one of the biggest challenges that organisation had in terms of we know how much pressure Ian Foster was under.

“That group had to galvanise, and they delivered at Ellis Park. For me, I want Codie Taylor to start in that hooker jersey.”

Speaking to media in New Zealand from Cape Town, the stand-in captain, Taylor, said that the group of hookers will continue to learn off each other over the course of the tour.

“Well, they’re all very powerful, skilful athletes. We’ve witnessed that over Super Rugby Pacific and Tests and yeah, it’s a great bit of competition for all of us,” Taylor said.

“I think the great thing is we all get along. We’re all trying to help each other, and that’s sort of what the jersey demands, anyway.

“You’ve got to put whoever’s getting the chance in the best spot possible to perform and get the job done. I’ve worked with all of them, and it’s a privilege to sort of learn from them, but also share sort of my experiences as well.”