Codie Taylor has spoken candidly about the toll South Africa's departure from Super Rugby has taken on New Zealand players, as the All Blacks prepare to open their eight-match 'Greatest Rivalry' tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.
Taylor, serving as tour captain in the absence of Ardie Savea, described the six-week trip as genuinely unique — the first extended New Zealand national team tour to South Africa in 30 years — and said the physicality and set-piece quality of South African rugby was something the All Blacks had simply been unable to replicate at home.
"Undoubtedly it sucks not being able to come over here for Super Rugby," Taylor said at a media briefing in Cape Town. "It's a different brand of rugby to what we get back home — big, physical men, great set-piece sides, but then also backs that can burn you pretty quick."
The 35-year-old hooker, All Black #1143, said the six-year gap since he last experienced South African conditions sharpened his appetite for the tour. New Zealand arrive unbeaten under new head coach Dave Rennie, having beaten France, Italy and Ireland in the Nations Championship on home soil.
"It started with those three weeks back home," Taylor said of the squad's build-up. "Coach Dave has been driving it really well."
Taylor acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, with South African home support adding another layer to an already demanding programme. A welcome-to-country event at Cape Town Stadium drew more than 4,000 All Blacks supporters, a turnout that visibly surprised the tour captain.
"I knew we had fans here. I didn't expect so many people to turn up."
On his captaincy role, Taylor was straightforward about the arrangement. Savea is due to join the squad later in the month after an extended break, and Taylor is clear about the temporary nature of his leadership brief. "I'm just taking that role on while Ardie isn't here. When Ardie gets back, he'll have that belt again, and rightly so."