The rise and rise of David Havili
The All Blacks lose Jordie Barrett, so they simply call up another kid with a bottomless bag of tricks – the Crusaders’ David Havili. Scotty Stevenson explains how he got there.
David Havili has had quite a day, which nicely caps off quite a week in what has been quite a year. The 22-year old Crusaders fullback has been called into the All Blacks squad today, replacing the injured Jordie Barrett, and it is just reward for the Nelson kid who could, and did.
Havili debuted in 2014 for his home province, Tasman, at just 19 years of age. The New Zealand Rugby Almanack rather prosaically recorded his arrival on the first class scene with one sentence: “David Havili is a versatile back with a great future.” You can always count on the Almanack for unbeatable accuracy and sober assessment.
It is not coincidence that Havili is comfortable in the midfield and in the back three. His coaches at Tasman were Kieran Keane, the former Canterbury and All Blacks inside centre, and Leon MacDonald, the former Canterbury and All Blacks fullback. In Havili, they unearthed a player in whom they could instil the fundamentals of both positions.
Although preferred at inside centre for Tasman, Havili made his run-on debut for the Crusaders on the right wing where he remained for five straight games before playing the last three games of the 2015 season in the number 12 jersey. Of his twelve starts the following year, eight of them were at inside centre and four were at fullback. Although he was a solid campaigner, it appeared that Havili’s versatility was also a weakness – where did he actually belong?
This year, he answered that question. David Havili proved once and for all that he is a fullback. A damn good one. It is no coincidence that the only two losses suffered by the Crusaders this season – against the British and Irish Lions and the Hurricanes – came when Havili was forced to shift into the midfield. Some could argue (and reasonably so) that the absence of Ryan Crotty, the man Havili was covering for, was also a contributing factor, but such was Havili’s influence from the back that without it, the Crusaders simply weren’t the same team.
You only have to look at Havili’s numbers to understand his personal performance level this season. He ranked second in Super Rugby for defenders beaten and fifth in carries and metres made; was top ten in clean breaks and inside the top fifteen for offloads. He also scored eight of the Crusaders tries. There is only one New Zealand fullback who produced better numbers this season, and that’s Damian McKenzie.
What is often overlooked in the individual statistics is how Havili’s assured play at the back gave the Crusaders the confidence to have a go. Maligned in recent seasons for a lack of adventure and derring-do, Havili was able to unlock the attacking instinct. He wasn’t faultless – no fullback ever is – but more often than not, according to Crusaders assistant coach, Brad Mooar, Havili was able to make a good decision on risk and reward.
“He was massive for us all season in terms of his percentages on decision making, and this year we saw how much he has been able to evolve as a player and as a communicator,” he says of his young charge.
“One of the big differences you notice as you move up the levels is just how much the top players talk on the field. They have a real sense of accountability for their own game, and the ability to keep others accountable. In this, David has excelled in 2017.”
In the age of the 23-man team, in which squad depth has become all-important and the bench often the difference between winning and losing, Havili became so crucial to the Crusaders in the run to the playoffs that his place at fullback became a non-negotiable. As Mooar explains, the bench was in some ways designed around ensuring Havili was protected.
“We know he can cover for us in the midfield, but he had stamped his authority on the fullback spot and so we knew we had to keep him there at all costs. If we had injuries in games, we had already thought through all the alternatives, rather than simply shifting David up. That would have been the easy thing to do, but not the right thing for the team.”
The trust in Havili certainly paid off. The fullback excelled in the playoffs, consistently working himself into reception position and launching deep raking kicks that pinned opposition teams in their own half. It is illustrative of his maturity as a player that the last three weeks of the season were much more about David Havili the backfield organiser and less about David Havili the sidestepping ball-runner. That was exactly what he needed to be.
Now, he gets the chance to carry that through to the All Blacks, which has put a smile on the face of Brad Mooar and the rest of the Crusaders coaching staff. He may have been a versatile back with a great future, now David Havili is the ultimate specialist whose time has arrived.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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 comments