James O’Connor’s endorsement adds heat to All Blacks midfield debate

64-Test Wallaby James O’Connor believes Crusaders teammate David Havili should be in the mix to start at inside centre for the All Blacks, describing the midfielder as “one of the best players I’ve played with” ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals.

Havili has long been held in high regard by All Blacks selectors but playing time at Test level has proved hard to come by for the Crusaders captain. After going to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, playing two matches off the bench in pool play, Havili featured in three Tests in 2024.

Under former Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, Havili was given an opportunity to wear the black jersey in a Bledisloe Cup Test during The Rugby Championship at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, before taking on Japan and Italy during the Northern Tour.

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Jordie Barrett is the incumbent at inside centre for the All Blacks, but there has been a fair bit of chatter amongst fans about Timoci Tavatavanawai or Quinn Tupaea wearing New Zealand’s No. 12 jersey later this year.

All three have been sensational this season. Barrett has starred for Irish juggernauts Leinster in the Championship and URC, while Tavatavanawai and Tupaea have impressed in Super Rugby Pacific, but so too has Havili for the number-one seeded Crusaders.

“Everyone is throwing up names for the All Blacks’ 12 and I’m like, ‘Why isn’t Davey in the picture?’ He’s been the most consistent performer,” O’Connor recently said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby.

“He’s one of the best players I’ve played with in terms of IQ, skillset, he’s a dog as well… he’s got it all.

“I’d love to see him get another crack.”

Havili was unveiled as the Crusaders’ new skipper ahead of the 2025 season, taking over from All Blacks captain Scott Barrett, as it had already been announced the lock would relinquish that role at Super Rugby level.

After starting the season with back-to-back 80-minute performances against the Hurricanes and Chiefs, Havili continued to lead the way for the Crusaders, who quickly re-emerged as a title contender after an unusually poor season last time out.

Havili has started in all 12 appearances this season, usually joining the likes of Dallas McLeod or Brayon Ennor in the midfield. With an impressive kicking game and playmaking ability, the Crusaders’ run into the playoffs reflects well on their skipper.

“He’s in my conversation every day of the week because he’s got a skillset that a lot of other 12s in the world don’t have,” former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall added.

“A lot of it is vision-based as well. He can rip a right-to-left, left-to-right pass when pressure’s on.”

After extending their flawless home playoff record to 30-0 against the Queensland Reds last week, the Crusaders have turned their focus towards defending champions the Blues, who they will host in Christchurch on Friday evening.

The Blues shocked the world with a last-gasp winner against the Chiefs last weekend, keeping their title defence alive for at least another week. O’Connor was the hero the last time these two sides met in Christchurch, with the first five-eighth converting a last-minute penalty to win it.

O’Connor will come off the bench during the match at Apollo Projects Stadium, while Havili will lead the team into battle as the starting inside centre. Ennor will link up with Havili as the centre pairing once again.