Havili returns to boost Crusaders
A nod from Scott Robertson’s All Blacks coaching team will see David Havili get some game-time at first five-eighth in a development that should boost the under-pressure Crusaders.
The World Cup All Black is open to the move as he returns from injury for the Crusaders’ must-win home game against the Melbourne Rebels tomorrow.
Havili and captain Scott Barrett both rallied around under-pressure coach Rob Penney yesterday, insisting the bottomof-the-table Crusaders could still win the Super Rugby title.
Penney revealed that Havili – who has been named on the bench with Rivez Reihana at first-five and Dallas McLeod at second – could see game-time in the No 10 role in the final six weeks of the season.
Havili has played well as a stand-in 10 in the past and it seemed an obvious solution to field him there this season with Richie Mo’unga gone to Japan and Fergus Burke out with an Achilles tendon rupture.
“I was quite adamant early on that he was going to be a midfielder and that was a decision in discussions we’d had with Dave,” Penney explained.
“We wanted to support him in that endeavour to be the best midfielder in the country and get his All Black jersey and play well for us.
“Since then there’s been some discussion from other people that have alluded it might be really good for him to have a dig at 10 as well. Good for his longevity in the country. He’s bought into that, and we’re happy with that as well.’’
Asked if the “other people’’ were the All Blacks coaching staff, Penney confirmed the nod had come from on high.
That is hardly surprising given Robertson and All Blacks assistant Scott Hansen had first-hand experience of Havili’s ability to play at pivot in their titles-winning time with the Crusaders.
Havili seems enthusiastic about the inside opportunity now, after being initially reluctant.
“I do enjoy playing 10. For me it’s another opportunity. I’ve played a number of positions in my career [and] I guess it just gives me another string to my bow and a wee bit of extra fire to be able to play well in a different position.”
Asked he felt experience at 10 might enhance his All Blacks selection hopes, Havili said: “I hope so”, adding he hoped he could ”step in where I can, and add a wee bit more experience in the last 15 to 20 minutes’’, a period where the Crusaders have been struggling to close out games.
Reihana, who had a shoulder issue in pre-season, will start after a couple of recent cameos off the bench. He replaces Riley Hohepa, who had started the last five games after being drafted as injury cover.
Penney said the Counties Manukau pivot had “done a great job, and I don’t want to use this word in a derogatory way, in a caretaker’s role”, but ‘‘the reality is we need better’’.
In other changes, Ethan Blackadder will switch to the openside with Tom Christie – the stand-in captain on the Australia tour – being rested after being an eight-match ever-present.
The move will beef up the backrow, with Christian Lio-Willie starting at No 8 and Cullen Grace moving to his old position on the blindside flank in his 50th match.
Two changes have been made in the back three, with Johnny McNicholl returning at fullback for Chay Fihaki and Heremaia Murray taking over at left wing from Macca Springer.
Barrett – back at lock alongside Quinten Strange – and Havili defended Penney, saying the onus was on the players to turn around the one-win seven-losses season.
“He’s great,’’ Havili said of Penney. ”He’s a huge leader for us. It’s tough to see the articles coming out about him because it’s frustrating as a playing group, it’s not just him by himself, it’s all of us. We’ve got to find a way this weekend.”