Sean Fitzpatrick
Sean Brian Thomas Fitzpatrick, MNZM ( born January 4, 1963 in Auckland ) is a former New Zealand rugby union player at the position of the Haklers. He is considered one of the best players of this country, comparable perhaps more than with the other big names of the All Blacks, Colin Meads.
Career
As a product of the famous provincial team from Auckland he played his debut as one of the Baby Blacks ( U21 national team of New Zealand ) in the famous match against France in 1986. Most players in the starting XV were closed due to participation in the rebel tour to South Africa, still won New Zealand and a whole new set of players gave impressive performances. However, Fitzpatrick went only as a replacement for the former captain Andy Dalton with the first Rugby World Cup 1987. This, however, had to retire after the tournament begins injured and so the substitute was used. He played so much that Dalton recovery despite no longer was used and David Kirk for him the captaincy of the team took over, the defeated France in the final at Eden Park in Auckland.
In the following years, the All Blacks dominated the international rugby scene with star players like Wayne Shelford, John Kirwan, Michael Jones and Grant Fox. But in the World Cup 1991, Australia a team that could compete with them. In the semifinals, both teams met at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on each other and the " Wallabies " with David Campese remained winner.
In the following season Fitzpatrick took over the captaincy for the first time - and he retained this position until his resignation from the All Blacks. The joy of a first victory over South Africa since her return from the boycott because of apartheid and victory in Game series about a world selection and Ireland were dampened that they lost the Bledisloe Cup in Australia.
The outstanding event of the rugby world in 1993 was the tour of the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand. The first game won by the All Blacks just after Grant Fox had the decisive penalty kick converted by the bars. The Lions got their revenge and beat New Zealand in the second game with her best there idea of all time. Fitzpatrick's team the second All- Blacks team would be with another victory was who had lost a series against the Lions. Despite a 10-0 residue - but they won the third game convincingly.
England, however, beat New Zealand at the end of the year at Twickenham Stadium and was able to defeat the Lions to make up something. In 1994 was a split year for New Zealand. They beat the Springboks from South Africa with 2-0 wins in a draw, but France created a greater sensation than the Blacks defeated with 2-0 victories.
The next year, the next World Cup, New Zealand had another great team with players like Ian Jones, Jeff Wilson, Andrew Mehrtens, Zinzan Brooke and the rediscovery Jonah Lomu. Many were sure that Fitzpatrick would lift into the air at the end of the tournament the Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand also reached the final against South Africa as a favorite, because the Springboks were progressed with difficulty, while the All Blacks convincing wins - especially in the semi-final against England - was able to record. But the team of Francois Pienaar surprised everyone and won in stoppage time with a drop kick from Joel Stransky.
After winning the first Tri Nations 1996, the All Blacks won the first time an international match series in South Africa. After winning the first two games Fitzpatrick's team had also achieved this and so avenged their final defeat.
Fitzpatrick continued to be successful with Auckland in the National Provincial Championship in New Zealand and the Auckland Blues in the Super 12, but his long international career was coming to an end. In the fall of 1997, he was injured, but coach John Hart called him anyway because of his leadership. His last international game he played as a substitute against Wales at Wembley Stadium.
Despite many requests Fitzpatrick has not waived the adoption of a work as a trainer and instead works today as an expert for the BBC and the TV channel Sky Sports in the UK.