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Scott Robertson names 'the most multi-skilled utility player' he's ever coached

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

Crusaders boss Scott Robertson believes his vice-captain David Havili is “the most multi-skilled utility player” he has ever coached.

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That’s some high praise given the calibre of players Robertson has been in charge of during his championship-laden spells at the Crusaders, Canterbury and New Zealand U20 side since 2008.

However, the Crusaders boss told media in the lead-up to Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Chiefs that Havili, who will make his 100th Super Rugby appearance in that game, is a worthy recipient of that title.

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“We’ve talked about this before,” Robertson said of Havili’s seemingly permanent positional switch from fullback to second-five, one that was made last year to accomodate for his side’s glut of star power in the outside backs.

“I suppose I don’t see it as a sacrifice, I see it as an opportunity for himself to be the best player he could be and take opportunities at the next level, which he’s done, and been incredible in it.

“He, for me, is probably the most multi-skilled utility player that I’ve ever coached, and to go to 12 now and specialise is pretty unique. Not many people do it, so [to go] from a world-class fullback to a world-class midfielder is a unique talent.”

The decision to move Havili from fullback to the midfield has paid dividends for the 27-year-old, whose All Blacks career was revived last year following his positional switch at Super Rugby level after a four-year absence from test rugby.

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Having played the last of his three tests back in 2017, Havili went on to feature in 12 tests in 2021, all of which he played second-five in.

Although he was the subject of criticism for his performances at international level as the year wore on, the major reason behind Havili’s All Blacks recall can be attributed to his move closer to the action while at the Crusaders.

That wasn’t something the man in question was comfortable with initially doing, though, as Havili revealed he had some concerns about the concept when it was first proposed to him by Robertson.

“It was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow when Ray wanted me to go into the midfield, but it’s a credit to him and his coaching staff,” Havili said. “At the time I didn’t see it and I felt like my position was 15.

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“They gave me opportunities in the midfield to grow and get better, and then once I got a bit more time under my belt and got used to it and had a lot of player outside me that helped me make the transition a lot easier.

“Stepping into international side of things, I guess it just made me realise that I wanted to play in the midfield and being allowed to get that experience and that exposure at that level has just helped me grow my game.”

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Part of the transition into the No 12 jersey was made easier by the connections Havili made with his fellow All Blacks midfielders, including Quinn Tupaea, the prodigious Chiefs second-five who he will mark at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.

“We bonded over the end-of-year tour, but it is what it is. We’re going out there to compete against each other. He’s going to be the same, we’ll be going hammer and tongs,” Havili said of his opposite.

“It’s going to be an awesome match-up and like I said, we’re going out there to compete against each other and both teams want to win.”

Not only would victory ensure Havili with an appropriate celebration for his centenary Crusaders match, but it would also provide Robertson’s men with redemption after they fell to a last-gasp 24-21 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs a fortnight ago.

That loss proved to be the first of the year for the Crusaders, so Robertson is keen to honour Havili’s milestone match, and the return of crowds following New Zealand’s relaxation of Covid restrictions, with a bounce back win.

“Firstly, it’s a unique situation. You don’t normally play teams two games in a row. You do that in Europe and it’s quite cool, it’s sort of like a little bit of a head-to-head,” Robertson said.

“The uniqueness of it, the crowd coming back in, getting beaten last time, there’s a lot of determination in the group and a lot of hurt from last time.

“The opportunity’s come round quick enough for us. We’ll take any game we can at the moment. And again, with Dave’s 100th, it’s going to be a belter.”

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J
Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 4 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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