NSW Waratahs and Crusaders to show solidarity by locking arms before Super Rugby match at SCG

After the horrendous Christchurch massacre, the Crusaders players will be welcomed onto the SCG by their rugby brothers, the Waratahs, with a poignant mark of respect.

Waratahs hooker Damien Fitzpatrick. Picture: Getty Images

It seems galling that a team should be plotting to defeat the rugby pride of Christchurch just 11 days after the most horrific crime in the city’s history.

Unfortunately, that task falls to the NSW Waratahs, who host the Crusaders at the SCG on Saturday in what will be an emotionally-charged occasion for the Kiwi players.

But in a show of what “the rugby family” is about, players from both teams will run onto the ground at the same time, before linking arms together in the middle of the field to observe a minute’s silence for the 50 people murdered, dozens more injured, and thousands in Christchurch left traumatised by last Friday’s terrorist attack.

“Our guys are preparing for a game of rugby but at the same time, it’s emotional and it’s more than just a rugby game,” Waratahs hooker Damien Fitzpatrick said.

“We met as a leadership group on Tuesday and decided that we will be locked arm in arm with the Crusaders players, in a show of solidarity for the occasion.

Chiefs and Hurricanes players come together before their match last Friday night to remember the victims of the Christchurch shooting. Picture: Getty Images

“Our thoughts are with the Christchurch people, and we’re also standing side-by-side with New Zealand rugby, and we’re players standing next to fellow players.

“We’re going to do our best to pay respect to the situation.

“You almost feel bad about saying ‘I’m looking forward to it’ in light of the events.

“But at a time like this, the Crusaders are playing for their town, playing for their people, it is an amazing opportunity for them and us.”

In a macabre twist, this is not the first time the Waratahs have been the first team to play the Crusaders after their city has endured tragedy.

“In 2011 when the earthquake hit, the Waratahs were also the first team the Crusaders played, they’d cancelled their match against the Hurricanes and then we played them in Nelson,” Fitzpatrick said.

Brumbies and Waratahs players remembered the victims of the Christchurch shooting ahead of their match last Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

“I was also a part of that match and that game had a really emotional feel to it, and this will be no different.

“This sport acts as a release, people use sport as an outlet to take their minds off things that might not be going well in their lives and the Crusaders are in a privileged position; they have the opportunity to do that for their people on Saturday.

“We’ll play our part in that. Rugby is a big family, and humanity is the same. Everyone living on this planet is the same, we’re all people, and we will be trying to provide relief for those who are going through a tough time right now.

“We want to show solidarity to our rugby brothers across the ditch, everyone will take a moment to reflect before kick-off.

“This is a game we will always remember as players.

“We remember playing in that game in 2011 after the Christchurch earthquake, and when we’ve finished our careers we’ll always remember being a part of the game against the Crusaders in 2019.

“It’s pretty hard to find someone in this country who doesn’t have some connection to New Zealand – I’ve got cousins and uncles and aunties living in Christchurch.

NSW hooker Damien Fitzpatrick says Saturday’s clash with the Crusaders more than just a rugby game. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“We have such close links to New Zealand, it’s not just the players who have that connection to what’s happened in Christchurch but the fans as well, they’ll sympathise with the situation so I doubt we will see the hostile reception that we may ordinarily have seen.”

It will indeed be more than just a game.

The best of rugby’s brotherhood will be on show prior to kick-off, before the teams show the best of its brutality and beauty once the whistle has sounded.

While it would be cruel to deny the people of Christchurch a win this weekend, NSW would do a disservice to the Crusaders to bring anything less than their greatest performance of the year thus far.

This Crusaders team has won a Super Rugby record 19 successive games, have claimed the past two premierships, and are seeking to start their 2019 season with five straight wins. The Crusaders have started with five wins from five games in five previous seasons, and they’ve claimed the title each time.

On the flip side, NSW lost to the Hurricanes in round one, defeated the Sunwolves and Reds, and then were defeated by the Brumbies in Canberra last Friday.

Ominously for the Tahs, they’ve never made the Super Rugby finals after losing three of their first five matches of a season.

“When you take away what we’ve been talking about, it is really important game of rugby for us,” Fitzpatrick said.

“We’re two and two, coming off a tough result in Canberra against the Brumbies, coming back home, and these are the games you identify to win.”