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'We can show how good we are': David Havili backs All Blacks to lift for Ellis Park
By Ben Smith
All Blacks second five-eighth David Havili is looking to atone for his personal performance in Mbombela as the team travelled to Johannesburg to prepare for a test match at the hostile Ellis Park.
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The All Blacks backs showed more intent in the first test against South Africa but the final execution was still not there as they struggled to manufacture line breaks and points.
The Crusaders midfielder said they are looking ‘to make it right’ at Ellis Park as the pressure grows on an embattled All Blacks side that has just one win from their last six tests.
“We are definitely not happy with the way we performed and we want to make it right this week,” Havili told media.
“The effort was there and we are trying bloody hard.
“It’s just a few things that aren’t sticking and when they do, I know that we will be back on the horse.”
Havili returned to the No 12 jersey for the third test against Ireland and hasn’t yet found the form at test level that he has shown with the Crusaders.
He is trying to develop a new midfield combination with Blues centre Rieko Ioane at the same time as finding his feet again at international level after his initial debut in 2017.
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The 27-year-old said he missed a couple of opportunities in Mbombela, one of which was a key drop in the 31st minute as the All Blacks were building nicely on attack after a long period without territory or possession.
He said at the international level the windows of opportunities are few and far between as the defences shut down time and space quicker.
“I think there is just a wee bit more on the line, and you get less opportunities in big test matches,” he said.
“Its fair to say that personally, I missed a couple as well and I’m definitely working hard to make sure I execute them this week if I get that opportunity.
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“Those are the small moments that you’ve got to win at this level. We don’t shy away from that.”
On what the All Blacks are planning in order to combat the high pressure defence from the Springboks, Havili said that there will be more to it than just adjusting their depth.
The All Blacks are confident that they had created chances against South Africa that they just didn’t capitalise on.
“It’s a bit more than that [standing deeper], it’s just taking the opportunities in front of us you know,” he said.
“We are creating opportunities we are just not executing them at the right time.
“There is a lot in our game that is creating those opportunities for us and it’s about just taking our moments.
“We spoke about just nailing our stuff in that moment, there were a few times where we didn’t and got it wrong.”
Havili’s last trip to South Africa with the All Blacks was a success, he was a part of the side that defeated the Springboks 25-24 at Newlands in Cape Town in 2017.
This week will be a new experience at Ellis Park in the black jersey however he was a part of the Crusaders side that overcame a 5-0 halftime deficit in the 2017 Super Rugby final to beat the Lions.
He said the side is keeping an open mind with a desire to play an open game and prove to the world who the All Blacks are.
“We’re coming here with an open mind, we want to play some attacking rugby and I feel like once we do that, we can show how good we are,” he said.
“But the Boks do a great job of starving us of the ball and putting us under pressure, so that’s what we will be working on this week.
“It’s an exciting challenge for myself, I love playing at Ellis Park. We haven’t had the opportunity to come here and do it in a long time.”
