Tom's Taylor made for All Blacks

Tom Taylor will make his All Blacks debut. Source: Phil Walter / Getty Images

ROOKIE playmaker Tom Taylor grew up with All Blacks in his house, now he is about to become one.

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The son of World Cup-winning All Blacks centre Warwick Taylor will also follow in the footsteps of greats like Grant Fox and Dan Carter to wear the No.10 jersey for his country against Australia this weekend after a spate of injuries led to his unexpected call-up.

"It's pretty surreal, I never thought I'd be here a week ago," Taylor said.

"It's my chance to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do it."

Reflecting on his childhood, the 24-year-old Taylor said: "I suppose it is a little bit different, but to me it was normal to have ex-All Blacks and current All Blacks coming into my house and mucking around with dad.

"It wasn't very different for me. I was lucky to have those people around me to help me or make me feel comfortable, I'll just use it to my advantage."

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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was reluctant to compare father and son.

"Warwick was his own man and played his own style, obviously Tom is his own man as well," Hansen said.

"There will be idiosyncrasies they have that will be similar, but I think he's got to be judged on his own merits.

"Both of them are just quiet blokes who get on with the job, that's one thing I've noticed they have in common.

"He's got more humour than Warwick. He's very funny, Warwick was only just funny."

Taylor, who steps in after injuries to duo Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett, said he would be confidently calling the shots on Saturday night.

"As a No.10 I need to talk, get on top of people and tell them what to do," he said.

"But I also like to lead by my actions.

"I'm trying no to focus on too much to be honest, because you can have a tendency to overload and play the game in your head a lot.

"I've just been trying to learn as much as I can, but then relax as much as I can as well, so I don't get too into it.

"I'm sure come game time I can be really clear and just pretend like it's a normal game and relax into it."

Taylor is taking his remarkable rise in stride.

"That's the way rugby goes sometimes, I've had a few shocks in the past where I've been thrust into situations that I probably haven't been ready at times," he said.

"I feel like this time, it was still a shock, but I can do the job."

New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.

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