TO A MAN, all of Steve Hansen’s New Zealand squad felt a sense of relief this week after calling home to check in on loved ones after earthquake wrought havoc in their homeland.
Yet when you’re 11,000 miles from home, it’s understandable if there some level of anxiety remains that you could or should be doing more.
Five years after his adopted city of Christchurch was devastated by an earthquake, Ryan Crotty didn’t waste time to check in on his partner after the south island of New Zealand was this week subjected to a 7.8 magnitude quake which has killed two people.
“My house is safe, and all my family and friends are all safe,” Crotty said with the look of a man who has thought through all of his alternative options. The proximity of his own home to the Pacific definitely got him thinking about the damage a two-metre tsunami is capable of.
“It was pretty stressful yesterday when you’re trying to board a flight here but you’re not really sure what’s going on back home. You get different reports and stuff.
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“I woke my partner up. Our house is probably a little bit too close to the beach so I sent her to her mother’s house because there were tsunami warnings and stuff like that. Everyone was a bit nervous. I’m glad those people were safe, but it is sad to see the loss back home.”
Crotty was taken off midway through the first half of the loss to Ireland and despite some postive reports on his hamstring, he is unlikely to be part of the haka at the Aviva Stadium. His reaction though, was typical of the squad.
Ben Smith in action against Ireland in Chicago. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
“I made sure that my wife and my wee two-year-old were safe. They are, I think,” says Ben Smith.
“As far as the team goes I think everyone’s okay but there are going to be people effected and our thoughts go out to those that are.”
The Dunedin man added: ”It’s a tough time and we’re thinking of those people back home in New Zealand that are going through a tough time.”
A photo from the fenced-off Christchurch City Centre in February of this year. Nick Perry
Nick Perry
For Christchurch natives, tremors have become almost commonplace since the devastating quake in 2011. The shudders are a relatively gentle remind of painful memories of the day the city shook. The Canterbury city has never fully recovered after the deep structural damage though, and this week has been a frightening return.
“Yeah, it’s funny to say but you kind of get used to it,” Crotty says of the ongoing milder seismic activity in recent years..
To help launch the AIG Insurance new discounts for drivers and their spouse/partners, the AIG Skills Challenge brought together the All Ireland Champions Dublin and the Rugby World Champions the New Zealand All Blacks’ for a head to head sporting clash in Castleknock College. Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
“There hasn’t been too many lately, but then a big one like that is kind of scary because it brings a lot of people back to that day. Hopefully everyone is staying safe.”
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'I made sure my wife and 2-year-old were safe': All Black stars turn thoughts to home after earthquake
TO A MAN, all of Steve Hansen’s New Zealand squad felt a sense of relief this week after calling home to check in on loved ones after earthquake wrought havoc in their homeland.
Yet when you’re 11,000 miles from home, it’s understandable if there some level of anxiety remains that you could or should be doing more.
Five years after his adopted city of Christchurch was devastated by an earthquake, Ryan Crotty didn’t waste time to check in on his partner after the south island of New Zealand was this week subjected to a 7.8 magnitude quake which has killed two people.
“My house is safe, and all my family and friends are all safe,” Crotty said with the look of a man who has thought through all of his alternative options. The proximity of his own home to the Pacific definitely got him thinking about the damage a two-metre tsunami is capable of.
“It was pretty stressful yesterday when you’re trying to board a flight here but you’re not really sure what’s going on back home. You get different reports and stuff.
“I woke my partner up. Our house is probably a little bit too close to the beach so I sent her to her mother’s house because there were tsunami warnings and stuff like that. Everyone was a bit nervous. I’m glad those people were safe, but it is sad to see the loss back home.”
Crotty was taken off midway through the first half of the loss to Ireland and despite some postive reports on his hamstring, he is unlikely to be part of the haka at the Aviva Stadium. His reaction though, was typical of the squad.
“I made sure that my wife and my wee two-year-old were safe. They are, I think,” says Ben Smith.
“As far as the team goes I think everyone’s okay but there are going to be people effected and our thoughts go out to those that are.”
The Dunedin man added: ”It’s a tough time and we’re thinking of those people back home in New Zealand that are going through a tough time.”
For Christchurch natives, tremors have become almost commonplace since the devastating quake in 2011. The shudders are a relatively gentle remind of painful memories of the day the city shook. The Canterbury city has never fully recovered after the deep structural damage though, and this week has been a frightening return.
“Yeah, it’s funny to say but you kind of get used to it,” Crotty says of the ongoing milder seismic activity in recent years..
“There hasn’t been too many lately, but then a big one like that is kind of scary because it brings a lot of people back to that day. Hopefully everyone is staying safe.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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ben smith Earthquake half a world away Ireland New Zealand November Tests Ryan Crotty ryan crotty ben smith