William claims Tasman bragging rights

It can’t be easy following in your sibling’s footsteps when he is an All Black. So boy did William Havili love getting one over David when his Moana Pasifika side upset the Crusaders last Saturday night.

The Moana fullback couldn’t get to really rub it in though, as his older brother, the Crusaders captain, withdrew before the match with an Achilles injury.

“I have still got the Tassie bragging rights though,” declared William straight after the game.

He wasn’t impressed that his younger half-brother Rocky was wearing a Crusaders hat and “jokingly” tore it off him.

Then he posed for photos with David and his grandparents Trudy and Tony Bisley on the field.

“I reckon I will need more gear now to give away,” quips William. Success can lead to that, and he’s hoping for more against the Waratahs back at Moana Pasifika’s North Harbour home ground on Saturday.

William acknowledges not many people were tipping the shock result, and admits his brother’s withdrawal certainly helped their cause.

“They seemed to miss his direction in midfield, plus we played pretty well for the full 80 minutes.  It was our biggest ever win,” enthused William, after the victory lifted his side off the bottom of the table.

Speaking after Monday training, the Motueka fullback confirmed head coach Tana Umaga had implored his players to stay level-headed after their convincing 45-29 win in Christchurch

William is thriving and consistently stepping up.  His partnership with first five Pat Pellegrino, his Tongan test teammate, has given the side a one-two kicking punch.

“We complement each other with my left boot and Pat’s right.  And there is a little bit of pressure off as he is doing the goalkicking too,” says William, who mixed his time between 10 and 15 for the Mako last year.

His injury update on David was not quite so positive. “He could be out for another week.”

In his absence, fellow Tasman Mako Ethan Blackadder assumed the captaincy of the Crusaders.  It proved to be a hospital pass as ill-discipline let the side down.

The match also marked the first Crusaders start for versatile Mako loose forward Fletcher Anderson, who made one brief appearance off the bench against the Blues 12 months ago.

In the lead-up, the 22-year-old commerce and law student vowed he would put his hand up for hard ball carries, and was excited to go head-to-head with his counterpart, 96-test All Black Ardie Savea.

He got close to the Moana Pasifika captain alright, but couldn’t stop him surging across for his second try.

After impressing for the Mako in the NPC, Fletcher had been upgraded to a full contract with the Crusaders this season, only to suffer a plantar fasciitis heel injury in the first week of training.

He was given a start, as No.8 Christian Lio-Willie was one of several frontline players rested.

Perhaps the Crusaders anticipated this week’s away game against the Drua, in Fiji, might have been tougher than the challenge from Moana Pasifika.

Instead they blew the chance to go to the top of the table as they slipped to third place behind the resurgent visitors.