Havili stuns in cameo debut
There was just one regret for All Black No.1161 David Havili.
A try on test debut sounds just about flawless. The only blemish being that Havili – the star Tasman, Crusaders and now All Blacks fullback – wasn’t able to celebrate with the traditional Makos’ salute.
Known as the fin, it’s customary for every Mako – no matter what team they’re in – to use it to mark the scoring of a try.
As Tasman team-mate Joe Wheeler reminded Havili by tweet earlier this week.
‘‘Get that fin up when you dot,’’ Wheeler wrote.
And Havili certainly had good intentions.
‘‘I was trying to but I couldn’t get it up in time because everyone was bear-hugging me, so I might get a bit of stick from the Tassie boys for that,’’ Havili said.
His try, from close range and after the final hooter, was the only one the All Blacks were able construct during the second half of Sunday’s 36-10 win over Argentina at Estadio Jose Amalfitani yesterday.
Having been up 29-3 at halftime, it wasn’t a great second 40 minutes from the All Blacks.
Not that it will ever change the way Havili feels about the match.
‘‘It was amazing,‘‘ said Havili, who came on for the final 11 minutes.
‘‘ I was a bit nervous when I was sitting on the bench but, once I got my first touch, that goes away.’’
Havili was well involved on attack and defence and has the allround game – and eventemperament – to hopefully make a success of international rugby.
He definitely started on an encouraging note.
The huge hug he got from captain Kieran Read, upon scoring, suggested the 22-year-old is held in high esteem within the team.
‘‘It was an awesome moment to get a try on debut and something that I never dreamed off,’’ Havili said.
Prop Wyatt Crockett was delighted for his fellow Crusader and Nelson College old boy.
‘‘It was awesome to see Davey there at the end getting a dot in his first test,’’ Crockett said.
‘‘He’s a good Nelson College lad, so that was pretty cool.’’