David Havili set to be the big mover in Ian Foster’s All Blacks World Cup squad

He’s adaptable, he’s capable and, most importantly, he’s finally available. Utility back David Havili has almost certainly timed his run perfectly, straight into the 33-man All Blacks World Cup squad that will attempt to bring the Webb Ellis Cup back from France in October.

Coach Ian Foster and fellow selectors Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt will unveil their group for the global tournament in Napier on Monday at 5pm, and it should be a squad that pretty much picks itself after the All Blacks’ largely impressive charge to four straight victories so far in 2023.

But, as always, there are one or two calls that will be tight, and one or two players who will be unlucky, as Foster trims his existing squad of 37 and also welcomes back a familiar face or two off the injury-list, such as Havili and fellow Crusader Joe Moody.

Havili will almost certainly squeeze in to the fourth and final midfield spot, alongside nailed-on starters Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane, and likely bench man Anton Lienert-Brown. He came through his return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the business end of Super Rugby as well as could be expected on Friday night, playing an impressive 40 minutes in Tasman’s 27-15 victory over Otago to open the NPC.

Havili’s return, potentially at the expense of Super Rugby team-mate Braydon Ennor, would be unlucky on the latter as he has followed a strong campaign with the Crusaders with two promising efforts off the bench this year against Argentina and South Africa and a solid display as starting centre in Saturday’s 23-20 victory over the Wallabies in Dunedin, before limping off at the end of the first half with a knee injury.

Foster could not confirm post-game in Dunedin how serious the injury was, but either way it’s unlikely Ennor had enough runs on the board to unseat a fit-again Havili, who covers multiple positions in the backline, has 25 tests under his belt and has figured prominently in Foster’s lineups over the last two seasons.

Ennor is not the only incumbent facing the squeeze, with prop and outside back the other two areas where there is likely to have been some heavy discussion on Sunday before the final group was settled on.

Loose forward might have been added to that mix, but a strong second-half showing from young Chiefs flanker Samipeni Finau on Saturday night and the continued fitness battles of Ethan Blackadder, who’s down again with a calf injury, looks likely to have settled that one.

Foster singled Finau and fellow test debutant Shaun Stevenson out post-game for their efforts, which included a crucial try apiece as the All Blacks roared back from 17-3 down at the break to steal the contest.

“Both probably took a little while to adjust to the pace of the game, and as it unfolded they got more involved and you started seeing what they could contribute,” he said. “They’ll both be happy, particularly Samipeni who finished over the top of them a bit, which is nice to see from a young man.”

Outside backs shapes as a tight decision, with six contenders going for four spots, excluding regular fullback Beauden Barrett who also covers 10 alongside Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie.

Will Jordan and Mark Telea are the certainties, with Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Stevenson the other contenders. Narawa’s ongoing back injury further clouds matters and it may come down to a medical call on the exciting Chiefs wing who enticed with his upside against Argentina and has been unavailable since.

If Narawa is picked, it would be a straight choice between Clarke and Fainga’anuku for the fourth spot, with the Aucklander’s experience and X-factor possibly giving him the slightest of edges. Stevenson, who finished strongly in Dunedin, also has his backers and might be just an injury away from the callup.

Prop also looks a tight call. Moody’s availability, and 57 caps of experience, likely sees him included among a group that could number six. Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax are certainties, and you could probably add young tighthead Fletcher Newell to that group as well. That leaves Tamaiti Williams, Ofa Tuungafasi and Nepo Laulala battling for the remaining two spots.

Williams is an exciting prospect, but an unconvincing first 40 in Dunedin might cloud his case. Laulala was also short of the mark on Saturday, while Tuungafasi was part of the second-half scrum resurgence.

Given Tuungafasi and Williams cover both sides, it might come down to a choice between Laulala’s experience and Williams’ promise and size. Given it’s a World Cup on the line, it’s likely the more conservative line prevails.

Possible All Blacks World Cup squad: Forwards: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot, Joe Moody, Ofa Tuungafasi, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane (capt), Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii. Backs: Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Damian Mckenzie, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa or Leicester Fainga’anuku.