Captain David Havili ready to lead as Crusaders embrace southern derby
The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season might’ve arrived quickly, but for Captain David Havili, that only adds to the buzz as we prepare to face the Highlanders tonight in Dunedin.
After a strong pre-season, he says the boys are more than ready to swap training intensity for the real thing.
“It’s been an awesome pre-season. The boys have worked really hard, but you get to that point where you want to get in front of a packed stadium, and nothing’s more exciting than being down in Dunedin for Round One.”
That sense of anticipation is helped by the fact this fixture is always one the team keeps an eye on – it carries years of history, and Havili feels it every time the derby rolls around.
“Anything with the Landers and the Crusaders in the mix is a huge game for us. The history of both clubs going down to Carisbrook and Jade Stadium makes it massive,” he says.
And with O‑Week adding energy under the roof, the team knows they’ll be walking into a good home-crowd atmosphere.
There’s a real sense of belief in our group, and a lot of that comes from the core group of players who’ve now spent several seasons growing together.
Havili says that experience has pushed our standards up and helped create strong leadership, especially during a pre-season where our All Blacks weren’t in the mix.
“The guys that have been here three-plus years, that experience has really helped them. Guiding the younger guys through the pre-season without the All Blacks has been great for their growth as well,” he says.
He also knows how important our depth will be as the season unfolds.
“We’ve got a strong squad without the All Blacks as well but having that experience coming off the bench tonight against the Highlanders is going to be key for us.”
Havili knows there’s no need to overcomplicate things tonight, but he’s clear on the importance of getting things right early.
“You want to start well. It’s early on in the season, but it can get away from you if you don’t. So that’ll be key for us.”
While his focus is firmly on the Crusaders’ opener, there’s a special family milestone happening this weekend too, with his brother set to play his 50th match for Moana Pasifika.
“It’s pretty cool. He’s been through his own journey to get where he is, and it hasn’t been smooth for him. Being one of the first Moana guys to play 50 is pretty special. Our family’s extremely proud of him, and hopefully they can get an awesome win for him.”
The Crusaders will head south knowing this derby always brings out something extra, and with Havili leading a group eager to fire, we’re ready to set our 2026 season in motion.
Kick-off is 7.05pm Friday 13 February.