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All Blacks contender David Havili returns for the Tasman Mako
By Online Editors
The already mighty Mako are about to get even stronger ahead of their Round 2 Mitre 10 Cup clash with Northland on Friday evening.
David Havili, the Crusaders vice-captain who was lighting up Super Rugby before a fractured thumb pulled the pin on the utility back's season, has been named in the Tasman midfield alongside fellow Crusader Fetuli Paea.
Havili also takes the captain's armband from Mitch Hunt in a starting XV that's undergone five changes following the Mako's 41-24 win over Counties Manukau last weekend.
The front row remains unchanged however experienced lock Alex Ainley has made way for Mahonri Ngakuru while openside flanker Jacob Norris has also been promoted from the bench to start in place of Sione Havili.
In the halves, Hunt partners up with Dwayne Polataivao, who's taken the place of Finlay Christie.
Havili and Paea's additions to the midfield means Leicester Fainga'anuku shifts to the left wing in place of Mark Telea. All Blacks Sevu Reece and Will Jordan round out the back three.
All five replaced players, Ainley, Havili, Christie, Telea and Alex Nankivell, are absent from the match-day squad entirely.
Havili was one of the Crusaders' most impressive performers throughout both Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa. During the Crusaders' second round match with the Chiefs, the five-cap All Black was asked to cover flyhalf.
Havili's injury partway through the Aotearoa season made it impossible for the 25-year-old to earn an All Blacks recall but with Ian Foster set to take a supersized squad to Australia for the Rugby Championship in November, he still has time to make a case for selection.
Tasman's match with Northland kicks off at 7:05pm NZT on Friday evening.
Tasman: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Fetuli Paea, David Havili (c), Leicester Fainga'anuku, Mitch Hunt, Dwayne Polataivao, Hugh Renton, Jacob Norris, Shannon Frizell, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Mahonri Ngakuru, Tyrel Lomax, Andrew Makalio, Isi Tu'ungafasi.
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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