Codie Taylor hopes to maintain scorching form in Sydney showdown

In-form All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor is thriving in the white-hot forward exchanges demanded in the Rugby Championship and is expecting more in the first Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Two powerful performances against the Springboks in the All Blacks' most recent outings confirmed Taylor as the No. 1 hooker in the side.

There was disappointment in not getting over South Africa in at least one Test, and while they were physical contests, Taylor is looking forward to the Australian challenges.

"We're creating a lot of opportunities. It's just a matter of finishing them, a common trend in our reviews.

"I take my hat off to South Africa. They know how to win Test matches. They deserve the title that they have at the moment. But it's promising we can play a brand of rugby we can be proud of.

"We want to attack with the ball and have to be better at nailing opportunities, especially towards the back end of the game."

Taylor said the pack was proud of some aspects of their game and that they have the potential to get more from their performances.

Forwards coach Jason Ryan demands honesty from the pack. Everyone knows their role and what is expected of them.

Ryan said Taylor is in exceptional form and has come of age.

"How he prepares and gets his body right, and how he helps the younger hookers that are there as well. He's clearly been No. 1 and thriving. He's played two massive Tests against the Boks, with big minutes, and has recovered well.

"He's given the players around him a lot of confidence."

Taylor said he was enjoying being part of the team at the moment, especially with the environment the coaches have created. He is happy with his game, but there is more he wants to improve at.

"We often look at the things we didn't do well, more than the good, but it's looking good out there. My game is simple these days. I've been around a while now, so I get around the field and try and work hard, and the rest comes off that."

It is important to reset from the physical demands of playing South Africa to playing Australia. The All Blacks want forward dominance but are not expecting it to be easy.

"Some people might be talking negatively about Australia, but we're making no assumptions and not taking any of this lightly.

"We're in Sydney; we're at their home ground. Australia can do anything; we've seen that in the past.

Taylor expects Australia to try to apply pressure around the set piece. Their ability to disrupt breakdown ball is significant, and the All Blacks will be making sure they don't achieve that because the Australian backs had the class to create chances from nothing.

"Although they had a pretty tough result last week, any Australian team is confident when they're at home."