Havili finds sweet spot in midfield

It’s fair to say playing in the midfield has grown on David Havili.

Not overly enthused about swapping the space which comes with playing fullback for the rigours of the congested midfield at the start of the year, he now acknowledges it’s been a good move for him.

In fact, the 26-year-old has been so effective in the No 12 jersey for the Crusaders he’s well and truly thrust himself into All Blacks contention.

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson is among those who believe All Blacks coach Ian Foster should recall the threetest All Black when he names his first squad of the year this month.

Havili, who made no secret he wanted to earn an All Blacks recall when he resigned with New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders through 2023 late last year, hears the noise but is keeping his head down.

‘‘I’m just doing what I can for the Crusaders at the moment, and I think that’s made my job a lot easier where I’m playing one position the whole time. I’ve been enjoying 12, the body is getting used to it now. I’m just trying to stay in my lane and, I guess, focus on what I can for my team to get us into the next final.’’

Havili has repeatedly told media he prefers fullback, where fellow Tasman Mako Will Jordan is playing, but acknowledges playing in the midfield at Super Rugby level has only made him more valuable.

Havili will make his 13th start of the season in the No 12 jersey in Sydney this afternoon when the Crusaders play the Rebels in pursuit of a spot in the transTasman final.

Outside of their 63-28 demolition job of the Reds in Brisbane last month, they haven’t been at their typical best in a competition which will crimp 10 into two after just five rounds.

Coming down from the high of winning the brutal Super Rugby Aotearoa competition for a second straight year and having to immediately launch another campaign, one some punters see as meaningless, hadn’t been easy, Havili admitted.

‘‘It was difficult. We put so much into the Aotearoa comp, playing that game against the Chiefs [in the final] you come down from such a big high and have to back it up the next week, which we did [against the Brumbies].’’

‘‘But that’s what I like about the sport, you’ve got new challenges every week and another challenge this week is about getting that bonus point and hopefully getting our foot in the [final] door.’’