Leon MacDonald's big mistake: why David Havili would have been a better target than Beauden Barrett
What Leon MacDonald wouldn’t give for David Havili.
It’s clear that MacDonald and the Blues have the makings of a useful Super Rugby side. The tight five are increasingly reliable, there’s workrate and aggression among the loose forwards, and some individual talent in the backs.
There’s no obvious nous, though. No leadership, no-one to take ownership of the winning and losing of a match.
The now-injured Rieko Ioane can flex all the muscles he likes, but his sphere of influence from the wing is nil.
What the Blues lack, and have done for years, is a playmaker. A man with vision and a broad skillset. You can have all the great athletes you like, but there’s no substitute for an ability to control a team and execute a gameplan.
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MacDonald’s no fool. He knows all that. It’s why he and the Blues sought to recruit Beauden Barrett from the Hurricanes.
But there’s the rub. Signing an elite All Black sounds a good idea, it’s just that it doesn’t always work out in practice.
Barrett’s not on deck for 2020 until some time in April. Having not deigned to appear in this year’s competition, at some point he’ll then trigger a clause in his contract that allows him to sit a season out entirely.
It’s good work if you can get it.
But it doesn’t help MacDonald much and, more broadly, underlines the value of what you might describe as the shrinking – and increasingly critical – middle tier of New Zealand rugby talent.
@CrusadersRugby have opted for Super Rugby experience over first five experience.https://t.co/ltsdXEzt5Y #SuperRugby #CHIvCRU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 6, 2020
Havili played fullback and second five-eighth for the Crusaders in week one and, at short notice, handled the kicking duties as well. This week against the Chiefs, with Richie Mo’unga needing a spell to recover from a couple of niggles, Havili will run the Crusaders’ show from 10.
Is he the best player in New Zealand? Of course not, but few boast Havili’s array of skills or leadership ability.
Having captained Tasman to a Mitre 10 Cup title, he’ll now steer the Crusaders around Hamilton’s FMG Stadium on Saturday night. It might prove a success, it might not, but it doesn’t diminish Havili’s worth to the side.
Or that of reserve lock Luke Romano.
Our Super Rugby sides have become populated either by kids or All Blacks saving themselves for a rainy day. There’s now precious little in-between and while we inevitably focus on the Crusaders being without star All Blacks such as Kieran Read this year, there’s an argument to be made that Matt Todd and Jordan Taufua are much bigger losses.
Signing Beauden Barrett should be cause for celebration. Just as, once upon a time, we were all quick to applaud Jamie Joseph when he recruited Tony Woodcock and Ma’a Nonu to the Highlanders or envy Todd Blackadder for having Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter at his disposal.
Only Blackadder never won a title at the Crusaders and Joseph only enjoyed any success in Dunedin once the big-name All Blacks left town.
In this era of rest weeks and restricted minutes for star players, guys who aren’t first-string All Blacks – but still boast degree of experience – are gold.
Yes we’re only one game in, but it was players such as Havili, Romano, Will Jordan, Lachlan Boshier, Tony Lamborn, Aidan Ross and Oli Jager who really excelled. Super Rugby is close to the pinnacle for them and they’re allowed to play every week. What more could you ask for?
In terms of Havili specifically, that playmaking ability provides the Crusaders with a vital point of difference. Between he and Mo’unga, you have options that only the Chiefs’ duo of Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie can match.
The @BluesRugbyTeam are desperate for a win this weekend with the Crusaders coming up next week.https://t.co/V3dJdAiYfq #SuperRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 5, 2020
The Blues, at least until Barrett appears, don’t have anyone in that role, nor the Hurricanes, while the Highlanders are a bit of a curiosity, having pushed the emerging Josh Ioane out to 12 and installed Mitch Hunt at first five-eighth.
That’s an arrangement that could go either way, in part because neither Ioane nor Hunt are the finished article.
Havili is more seasoned, though, and the kind of guy who could influence the outcome of this year’s competition. He’s part of a Crusaders squad that still boasts its stars, but if they do go on and claim a fourth successive title, it will be because of men such as himself and Romano, Jordan, Michael Alaalatoa, Andrew Makalio, Mitchell Drummond, Quinten Strange, Billy Harmon, Mitchell Dunshea, Whetu Douglas, Tom Sanders and all the rest.
The stars might be front and centre of every team poster, but it’s the David Havilis of this world who win you competitions.
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments