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
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments