Codie Taylor to captain All Blacks for first time against Bulls

Veteran hooker Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 110th match when New Zealand faces the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, August 15. The match serves as the final tour fixture before the first Test against the Springboks and marks Taylor’s return from a calf injury. All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has joined the squad after resting at the start of the seven-match tour but is not expected to play until the Test series begins.

Taylor, 35, becomes the third player to lead the team on the South African tour, following lock Patrick Tuipulotu and flanker Luke Jacobson. Head coach Dave Rennie praised the selection, calling it a proud moment for a player who has made a massive contribution to the team. Taylor expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity and the return of the regular skipper. He noted that Savea holds significant mana within the group and is keen to return to the field for the upcoming Tests.

The All Blacks enter the match with momentum after victories over the Stormers and a dominant 54-0 win over the Sharks. Rennie has named an entirely fresh starting XV for the clash in Pretoria, with props Xavier Numia and Tyrel...