Highlanders v Crusaders
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NZR Statement:
Tonight's Highlanders v Crusaders Investec Super Rugby fixture scheduled to be played at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium has been cancelled. New Zealand Rugby's Chief Rugby Officer Nigel Cass said the decision to cancel the match was made after urgent meetings today with both teams, venue management, police and community organisations involved in responses to yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Christchurch. “After consulting widely with both teams and key stakeholders, New Zealand Rugby has decided to cancel this evening’s match. “Advice from police and venue management was that the fixture could go ahead, however, with strong agreement from both teams we have made the final call not to proceed as a mark of respect for the events that have occurred in Christchurch." Crusaders CEO Colin Mainsbridge said their entire club community was in a state of shock. “Yesterday’s horrific attacks have left us all feeling stunned. All other issues and considerations pale in significance. We will now regroup and make arrangements for the team to return home as soon as possible to be back in their community and with their families.” Highlanders CEO Roger Clark said they were working to communicate with ticketholders and fans. “This is always the biggest fixture on our match calendar and one which our fans look forward to, but when we think about the massive loss of life and absolute devastation that has been wreaked on people in Christchurch, we feel this is the right decision. “For ticketholders refunds will be processed over the next three weeks further information will be available through ticketrocket.co.nz.” The Highlanders team has met today and all players have been advised to go home and be with their families.http://www.allblacks.com/News/33847/highlanders-v-crusaders-match-cancelled
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I totally agree with the decision. Not only does it show respect for the victims, their families and local community, but I expect it's also important to the Crusaders players on a more personal level. Many of them have young kids and their schools may have been in lock-down yesterday. They'll want to be with their families, esp. their kids, give them a cuddle and talk with them about what happened. They also have strong ties to the local community and may want to connect with them as well, just like they did after the big earthquake. Those things are just more important than what's, ultimately, only a game of rugby.
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While I understand the decision, and it’s theres to make, I lean towards carrying on as normal. One of the goals of these sorts of attacks is to change how we live.
Like how we should never name these cowards, we shouldn’t change a damn thing about how we live as a society.
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My every sympathy for the players involved. They were in a no-win situation here. Go ahead with the game and some people somewhere would have accused them of insensitivity. Cancel and others would accuse them of being cowards. Neither choice was easy.
For what's its worth IMHO for 24 to 48 hours after terrorist attacks it is right to stop and the entire focus of communities affected to be with the victims and supporting the emergency services, as well as beginning to make sense of what happened. Rugby is just a game after all.
Then after that it's back to being the open, open-minded, fun-loving, busy societies we are. The terrorists and fascists must never win.
I hope schools in the South Island are open as normal on Monday.
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@sparky is anyone calling them cowards though?
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I understand the Decision. I live in chch, love the Highlanders and work in Education and have kids in school, I'm shattered emotionally today! The effects of this event will shape the young generation of chch which cannot be understated, many already struggled to a degree that I don't thi k NZ understand this. Thoughts with the families who lost loved ones.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
@sparky is anyone calling them cowards though?
Absolutely nobody is.
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@Siam said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Easiest 2 points we'll get off the Crusaders!🙂
I wonder if last night's draw made the decision easier?
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I've already stated above that I fully agree with the cancellation and why.
From a competition perspective, I hope this cancellation doesn't impact the Highlanders or Crusaders at the end of the regular season by denying them a spot in the finals, or a home QF/SF/F because they now don't get the same number of points they would have got if they had won the game (with or without a bonus point).
On the other hand, I assume this missed game will count towards the mandatory rest days/breaks All Blacks are required to take; I don't remember which Highlanders ABs were due a rest day, but I know that Mo'unga and Barrett couldn't have played next week against the Tahs if this game had gone ahead as scheduled, because they're not allowed to play more than 5 consecutive games. Now, I assume, the count starts at 0 again.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
I've already stated above that I fully agree with the cancellation and why.
From a competition perspective, I hope this cancellation doesn't impact the Highlanders or Crusaders at the end of the regular season by denying them a spot in the finals, or a home QF/SF/F because they now don't get the same number of points they would have got if they had won the game (with or without a bonus point).
I doubt it will and I don’t think it really matters.
FWIW we are still undefeated 🤙
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I don't see how cancelling the match shows any kind of respect to victims and families, but if the players weren't wanting to play then fair enough. I feel like it would have been a fantastic opportunity to show respect and perhaps do some fundraising by going ahead with it...although bit hard to play a half decent game when you have no desire to play at all.
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
**I don't see how cancelling the match shows any kind of respect to victims and families, but if the players weren't wanting to play then fair enough. I feel like it would have been a fantastic opportunity to show respect and perhaps do some fundraising by going ahead with it...**although bit hard to play a half decent game when you have no desire to play at all.
Summed up in a nutshell. Can't believe they cancelled it. Pointless. You could argue that the perpetrators got what they wanted. Would have been better to carry on and show we won't be cowed.
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@ShadowTrooper the dickhead was living in Dunedin so perhaps there was also a sense of safety first to it. After all the canes v chiefs game went ahead.
