It might be bravado to back embattled coach Iain Foster, but prop Cody Taylor said the All Blacks were making progress despite reeling from their worst losing streak in nearly a quarter of a century.
Taylor was recalled to the bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against the Springboks at Ellis Park after being ruled out of the 26-10 defeat in Mbombela, the All Blacks’ worst loss in South Africa for 94 years.
It was also their fifth defeat in six Tests, the team’s worst form since a five-match losing streak under John Hart in 1998.
“This team takes steps every week and I think there were some great steps last week,” Taylor told reporters.
“Obviously, the results don’t show that. But where we want to go and where we aspire to be as an All Black team certainly remains to be seen.
“You can’t ask much more from guys who are given an opportunity every week and it’s not for lack of trying.”
​​​​​​While Resisting a wholesale change, Foster has again shaken up his front row, naming 24-year-old rookie Ethan de Groot and Tyrell Lomax as starting props, dropping Angus Taavaa and George Bauer.
De Groot, who was ruled out of the Ireland series, has started just once in his five-Test career and has never played at the Ellis Park stronghold.
“It’s going to be a hell of a problem,” he said.
“If you had told me five weeks ago when I was going to Southland that I would be starting at Ellis Park, I would probably have told you to get lost.”
After the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will travel to Tokyo to play Japan on October 29 before November internationals against Wales, Scotland and England, New Zealand Rugby said on Friday.
