Product Details:
Size: 500mm x 340mm Limited Edition: 100 World Wide - Pencil and Wash Study by international sports artist Craig S Primrose.
- Personally signed by Sean Fitzpatrick and the artist.
- Supported by a Certificate of Authenticity and a photograph of the signing session
- Printed using archival quality paper and light fast inks
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 simplyas rugby stars but as folk heroes.
As a player Fitzpatrick, with his durability, competitiveness and his rolein making the hooker a dynamic cross between a tight and loose forward, achievedgreatness. But he was also an inspiring leader and of the record 92 tests heplayed for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1997 51, also a record, had beenas captain from 1992.
Curiously, most of Fitzpatrick's rugby feats came directly from the misfortunesof 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 throughhis 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 dozenmatches 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 beforethe 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 limitedgame time during the tournament. But before the first match Dalton injured ahamstring and so Fitzpatrick played in the tournament opener and all of thepool matches.
By the time of the quarterfinals Dalton had recovered but so well had Fitzpatrickplayed that, despite being captain, Dalton was forced to sit on the reservesbench and indeed, with two others (Bruce Deans and Frano Botica) never tookthe field in the entire 1987 World Cup.
From 1987 and into the early 1990s, both with the All Blacks and the powerfulAuckland provincial sidees, Fitzpatrick developed quickly into one of New Zealand's greatest hookers. Soon after the 1987 World Cup he scored two tries in theBledisloe Cup test win over Australia in Sydney .
In 1987 he had formed a potent front row with John Drake and Steve McDowelland when Drake retired at the end of that year Richard Loe ensured there wasno slackening in the dominance. By then, too, Fitzpatrick had overcome any earlyweaknesses in his lineout throwing.
In 1992, again by accident, Fitzpatrick became the All Black captain. WhenLaurie Mains took over the All Black coaching that year he clearly had his Otagocaptain Mike Brewer in mind for that role with the national side. At that stageFitzpatrick, having been in an All Black side which had gone into decline in1990-91, was probably more concerned with retaining his test position.
But Brewer's injury in the final trial of 1992, and with the previous leaderGary Whetton not figuring in Mains' plans, Fitzpatrick suddenly found himselfthe only captaincy candidate. He led the All Blacks in the three matches againstthe 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 developa cordial relationship with Mains, that when Brewer did return it was plainthat Fitzpatrick had to continue as captain. It was a sign of a natural diplomaticskill that Fitzpatrick worked well with Mains and then with John Hart when hesucceeded Mains as coach in 1996.
Between 1992 and 1994 under Mains and Fitzpatrick there were as many setbacksas triumphs. In 1992 and again in 1994 there were a number of narrow and frustratingBledlsloe Cup losses, a series loss to France in 1994, a wreteched display againstthe 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 themomentum was maintained through the 1996 and 1997 seasons. In 1996 there wasa magnificent 43-6 hammering of the Wallabies at Athletic Park and a few weekslater a series win over the Springboks on South African soil.
For most of his career Fitzpatrick had been remarkably free from seriousinjury, much to the despair of his many deputies such as Warren Gatland, GrahamDowd 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 becameclear that Fitzpatrick was on the wane because of his worsening knee and hisonly appearances on tour were as second spell replacements against the EnglishPartnership XV and Wales . He managed only 45 minutes of rugby on tour and at34 had come to the end of a stellar career. He played in 346 first class matchesin all, second only to Meads' 361. Of these 128, including 92 tests, were forthe All Blacks, 127 for Auckland and 25 in the Super 12 for the Blues when theywon 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 andmanaged New Zealand Colts sides and the Blues in the Super 12 before becomingin 2004 a television commentator in Britain .
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