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First All Blacks Test in six years providing 'buzz' for rattled Christchurch
For the first time in six years, Christchurch will play host to an All Blacks Test match when the NZ national sides takes on Argentina this weekend.
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For residents of the wider Canterbury province, Saturday’s fixture provides the first first opportunity in half a decade to witness the All Blacks in action.
For the large contingent of Crusaders players in the squad itself, the clash provides a chance to play in front of friends and family while donning the famous black jersey.
Sam Whitelock is a man who’s had that opportunity on many an occasion in the past and is well aware of how important the coming game will be to the people of Christchurch – especially those who experienced the 2011 earthquakes that shook the city.
“I actually played in Jade Stadium too, or the old AMI, played in the last Test match there,” said Whitelock, who will once again wear run out with the No 4 on his back.
“Then I saw what the whole community went through not just here in Christchurch but the whole greater area, the things that people went through whether they were a five-year-old kid waiting for their parents to come pick them up from kindergarten after a number of different earthquakes and tremors, whether they were an older person put under stress that way. So it is great to have Test match rugby back here in Christchurch.
“I know it affected the community just before the World Cup, losing all those Test matches through the World Cup. So it’s great to be back and it’s a little bit surreal when you start looking around, there’s not actually a lot of people that were playing professional rugby when those earthquakes happened in the team so it’s nice to be able to pass on some of those messages we’ve had through the years that have gone past through playing here as All Blacks.
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“There’s definitely a buzz and there’s a lot of people coming from a long way away that can get to the game that are pretty excited. I know there are a lot of kids that it’s their first chance to come and get to the game. Fingers crossed it’s a nice still night out there and not so cold.”
Although men like Whitelock and reserves hooker Codie Taylor were on deck the last time the All Blacks played in Christchurch, less seasoned All Blacks such as David Havili and Will Jordan will have the first opportunity to play in front of their local fans at the stadium they call home throughout Super Rugby.
“It’s huge. I think it’s going to be awesome,” said Havili. “I’ve got a lot of family coming down and a lot of support. It’s going to be a big occasion for myself.
“I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of family. We’ve obviously been on the road for a bit so not being able to see them has been pretty tough but I’m looking forward to having them at home this week.”
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24-year-old Jordan couldn’t recall whether he’d attended the 2013 or 2016 Tests at Orangetheory Stadium as a fan but was excited to play in front of a home crowd for the first time.
“I don’t know if I’ve been to any at Orangetheory,” he said. “I remember going to a few back at the old Jade Stadium back in the day and have fond memories of those ones. No doubt there’ll be a big crowd down on Saturday night to support us. Cantabrians love their rugby so they’re right in behind us.
“Over the years, since the earthquake, it hasn’t been too common having a Test at home. Like Davey mentioned, just all the little things around being in your home comforts and training at your home ground and stuff’s been really cool. Just allows a few more friends and family to come down to the game this week as well so I know all the local boys and everyone in the squad as well is actually buzzing to be down here so it’s been great.”
While this weekend’s battle will provide the All Blacks with an opportunity to get a leg up on their Rugby Championship rivals after a tough tour to South Africa, it also represents something bigger for the wider Christchurch community – and the fans would undoubtedly turn out in droves just for the rare chance to see their All Blacks heroes in person.
Comments on RugbyPass
Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
6 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
6 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
6 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
6 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
6 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
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