Sean Fitzpatrick

By the time of his enforced retirement, just before the start of the 1998 season, because of a chronic knee injury Sean Fitzpatrick had established himself as one of the most significant All Blacks of all time. As a legend he rated with the likes of Colin Meads and George Nepia, men who have a status not simply as rugby stars but as folk heroes.

As a player Fitzpatrick, with his durability, competitiveness and his role in making the hooker a dynamic cross between a tight and loose forward, achieved greatness. But he was also an inspiring leader and of the record 92 tests he played for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1997 51, also a record, had been as captain from 1992.

Curiously, most of Fitzpatrick’s rugby feats came directly from the misfortunes of others and but for those lucky breaks he may not have had the same success. But that can only be conjecture. Fitzpatrick was such a dynamic footballer it is difficult to imagine that his raw talent would not eventually be recognised.

His test debut was the first example of a theme which was to run through his career. He was only meant to be a reserve for the Baby Blacks’ test against France in Christchurch in 1986 and had it not been for the ban on the Cavaliers who had been in South Africa he would not even have been a national contender at that early stage of his career.

He was well down the national pecking order of the time, was only a reserve for Auckland behind Iain Abercrombie and had played no more than half a dozen matches for the province with most of his previous first class games having been for New Zealand Colts or New Zealand Universities. But on the Friday before the match against France the intended hooker, Bruce Hemara, who in 1985 had understudied Hika Reid on the tour of Argentina, was forced out with injury and Fitzpatrick was promoted to take his place.

A year later Andy Dalton was meant to be the hooker and captain at the inaugural World Cup and as his intended deputy Fitzpatrick might well have had limited game time during the tournament. But before the first match Dalton injured a hamstring and so Fitzpatrick played in the tournament opener and all of the pool matches.

By the time of the quarterfinals Dalton had recovered but so well had Fitzpatrick played that, despite being captain, Dalton was forced to sit on the reserves bench and indeed, with two others (Bruce Deans and Frano Botica) never took the field in the entire 1987 World Cup.

From 1987 and into the early 1990s, both with the All Blacks and the powerful Auckland provincial sidees, Fitzpatrick developed quickly into one of New Zealand’s greatest hookers. Soon after the 1987 World Cup he scored two tries in the Bledisloe Cup test win over Australia in Sydney.

In 1987 he had formed a potent front row with John Drake and Steve McDowell and when Drake retired at the end of that year Richard Loe ensured there was no slackening in the dominance. By then, too, Fitzpatrick had overcome any early weaknesses in his lineout throwing.

In 1992, again by accident, Fitzpatrick became the All Black captain. When Laurie Mains took over the All Black coaching that year he clearly had his Otago captain Mike Brewer in mind for that role with the national side. At that stage Fitzpatrick, having been in an All Black side which had gone into decline in 1990-91, was probably more concerned with retaining his test position.

But Brewer’s injury in the final trial of 1992, and with the previous leader Gary Whetton not figuring in Mains’ plans, Fitzpatrick suddenly found himself the only captaincy candidate. He led the All Blacks in the three matches against the World XV early in 1992 as part of the New Zealand union’s centenary celebrations.

So well did Fitzpatrick perform as captain, and so quickly did he develop a cordial relationship with Mains, that when Brewer did return it was plain that Fitzpatrick had to continue as captain. It was a sign of a natural diplomatic skill that Fitzpatrick worked well with Mains and then with John Hart when he succeeded Mains as coach in 1996.

Between 1992 and 1994 under Mains and Fitzpatrick there were as many setbacks as triumphs. In 1992 and again in 1994 there were a number of narrow and frustrating Bledlsloe Cup losses, a series loss to France in 1994, a wreteched display against the British Lions in Wellington in 1993 and a loss later that year to England. The final heartbreak was the defeat in the World Cup final of 1995.

But by 1995 a fine side had been finally built and when Hart took over the momentum was maintained through the 1996 and 1997 seasons. In 1996 there was a magnificent 43-6 hammering of the Wallabies at Athletic Park and a few weeks later a series win over the Springboks on South African soil.

For most of his career Fitzpatrick had been remarkably free from serious injury, much to the despair of his many deputies such as Warren Gatland, Graham Dowd and Norm Hewitt, who during their stints received few chances.

But in 1997 on the end of year tour of Wales, Ireland and England it became clear that Fitzpatrick was on the wane because of his worsening knee and his only appearances on tour were as second spell replacements against the English Partnership XV and Wales. He managed only 45 minutes of rugby on tour and at 34 had come to the end of a stellar career. He played in 346 first class matches in all, second only to Meads’ 361. Of these 128, including 92 tests, were for the All Blacks, 127 for Auckland and 25 in the Super 12 for the Blues when they won the first two titles in each of the 1996-97 seasons.

Fitzpatrick, after stepping down as a player, remained active in the game, adding to his now iconic status. He worked as an ambassador for the game and managed New Zealand Colts sides and the Blues in the Super 12 before becoming in 2004 a television commentator in Britain.