Havili makes welcome return for Crusaders
Three months ago former All Black David Havili was recovering from emergency bowel surgery.
On Saturday, during an inter-squad game at Orangetheory Stadium and in front of the club’s season ticket holders, the 25-year old was back into his graft with the Crusaders.
While the other four New Zealand teams were preparing for the opening round of Super Rugby Aotearoa at the weekend, the Crusaders, who had the bye, slipped quietly into work-mode by swapping training drills for a taste of the real thing against each other on a crisp Christchurch afternoon.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson announced he was satisfied with the outcome, not least because fullback Havili, who played three tests in 2017, had rebounded back from the operation to remove 20cm of his bowel in early March.
‘‘A special mention to him. For what he has been through, just from the health point of view,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘Not even just playing rugby, just to be healthy again and then to put in a performance and the level he has been training at is pretty immense.
Robertson is expected to have a full strength squad to choose from before the Crusaders meet the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.
With Havili making a recovery after losing around 9kg following the surgery, there were fears he may not be available in the early rounds of the fresh competition, the Crusaders shouldn’t lack firepower in the back field.
If Havili starts ahead of another talented fullback in Will Jordan, there may be a continuation of the attacking partnership with All Blacks wings George Bridge and Sevu Reece for the fixture against the Hurricanes.
Robertson has already confirmed he will retain Scott Barrett as his skipper despite Sam Whitelock, who has previously led the Crusaders to three titles in as many years, returning from Japan when Covid-19 spread worldwide.