Codie Taylor relishes return to South African provincial rugby

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor says he has missed playing in South Africa since the end of Super Rugby and is eager to renew an old rivalry when New Zealand’s midweek matches begin on the Greatest Rivalry tour.

Taylor was speaking at a welcoming event at Cape Town Stadium, where he reflected on the end of regular meetings between New Zealand and South African franchises in Super Rugby. The 33-year-old said the provincial fixtures on this tour would offer a welcome return to a style of rugby he particularly enjoys.

“Admittedly, it sucks not being able to come over here for Super Rugby. I used to love these tours, love the contests that we have against all the clubs. It’s a different brand of rugby to what we get back home,” Taylor said.

The All Blacks hooker said South African sides presented a distinctive test because of their physical strength and reliability at set piece, while also possessing backs capable of changing a match quickly.

“Big physical men, great set-piece sides, but then also backs that can burn you pretty quick. I’m going to really relish the opportunity to play these teams again. It’s been a long time.”

New Zealand and South African franchises no longer meet regularly in Super Rugby, ending a series of contests that Taylor believes provided a special challenge for touring teams.

He recalled his most recent match against a South African franchise, when he faced the Stormers in 2019. That encounter finished level, but Taylor said the competitive nature of the contest remained clear.

“I was just remembering back to 2019, playing over here, playing the Stormers. What a game that was, we drew. Competitiveness is always there, even though we don’t play each other a lot.”

Taylor’s comments came as the All Blacks began their South African adventure with a formal welcome in Cape Town. The visit forms part of the Greatest Rivalry tour, which brings New Zealand back into an environment where matches against South African opposition have traditionally been defined by physical contests and demanding forward play.

For Taylor, the opportunity to face provincial teams again provides more than a change of scenery. It allows him to return to a type of rugby that he has not experienced regularly since the structure of Super Rugby changed and the New Zealand and South African franchises stopped playing each other on a consistent basis.

He said the long gap had made the prospect of taking on those teams especially appealing, with the combination of powerful forwards, strong set pieces and dangerous backs offering a challenge he was keen to embrace.