Crusaders captain David Havili believes Christian Lio-Willie is on monitor for larger honours with the All Blacks, saying the “world-class” backrower could possibly be in competition after one other dominant show on Friday night time.
Lio-Willie travelled with the highest squad to Japan final October, and whereas the free ahead was initially set to symbolize the All Blacks XV in matches towards Munster and Georgia, accidents to Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i prompted a change.
Whereas Lio-Willie didn’t get the possibility to debut for the All Blacks, alternatives to play Take a look at stage rugby may not be too distant, ought to the 26-year-old preserve “enjoying the way in which he’s” with the Crusaders in Tremendous Rugby Pacific.
After the Crusaders booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 32-12 win over the Queensland Reds, Havili was asked about Lio-Willie, who had been immense during an 80-minute shift at Apollo Projects Stadium.
Lio-Willie had a game-high 62 carry metres, ran the ball 10 times, secured a turnover, finished in double digits for tackles made, and the No. 8 even clocked an offload. While it was a true team performance from the Crusaders, it would’ve been hard not to notice Lio-Willie’s impact.
“He’s world-class,” Havili told reporters.
“He’s been doing that for a couple of years now.
“He’s been in and around that All Black frame, end-of-year tour as well.
“If he keeps playing the way he is at the moment, he’s only going to make that.”
After a nervy start to the Qualifying Final, the Crusaders opened the scoring in the 15th minute through All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett. Tamati Williams crashed over for the team’s second five-pointer soon after, helping the hosts extend their advantage to 12.
While the Reds did well to keep the scoreline at 12-nil by the break, there was no doubt that the hosts were in control. The Crusaders piled on some more points midway through the second term, with some individual brilliance from Noah Hotham the highlight of the night.
Rivez Reihana also scored a try before the Reds hit back through Wallabies Josh Nasser and Fraser McReight deep into the contest, but time wasn’t on their side. Kyle Preston actually had the last laugh, scoring the Crusaders’ fifth try with two minutes left.
When the full-time whistle sounded, the Reds’ season came to an end while the Crusaders were through to their first semi-final in two years. Having finished in the top-two on the ladder, semi-final rugby is coming to Christchurch, but their opponent remains a mystery for now.
“We knew that finals games were going to be like that,” Havili reflected.
“All is takes is a few moments you get wrong and then you’re back down on your own five metre.
“I think we built that throughout the week and really got a great result.”
Reds captain Tate McDermott spoke candidly after the match, saying: “What we knew about the Crusaders, obviously, particularly at home, and they’ve shown all year that they’re a world-class side. They didn’t need too many opportunities to capitalise during the first half.
“I was really proud of the fight. We went into the sheds 12-nil [down] which, all issues thought-about… and after making a few errors, 12-nil was not a foul level for us to make a return within the second half.
“They dominated us up entrance… but in addition the collision areas throughout the forwards and backline. They obtained a quantity on us there they usually did a quantity on our attacking breakdown, which made it very tough to shift the purpose of assault.
“To their credit score, they’re superb at disrupting they usually did.”
