Sunday Telgraph (Sydney, Australia)
May 29, 2005 Sunday

NSW blown away by the support

by PETER JENKINS

THE Waratahs were swamped by good luck messages from around the globe
before last night’s Super 12 final in Christchurch.

In the heart of Christchurch, at the five-star hotel where NSW have
been based since Wednesday, the team room was adorned with emails and
faxes from supporters scattered throughout not only Australia but
Fiji, Switzerland,

Armenia, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Great Britain and New Zealand.

“The support has been absolutely terrific,” skipper Chris Whitaker
said before the Jade Stadium showdown. “We’ve been blown away by the
sentiment and volume of messages coming through.

“It means a lot to the guys to see just how passionate the NSW
supporters are and just how many there are out there, all around the
world.”

A high percentage of the well wishes were from expatriate
Australians, including one in Armenia who went into the detail of
where the country could be found on the map.

“But there have been foreigners writing as well,” Waratahs media
manager Djuro Sen said.

“There have been a lot of Fijians sending us luck. A lot of them
mention Lote Tuqiri. But it has really had an impact on the players.
They can’t believe the level of support.”

NSW Premier Bob Carr sent a personal message to the side.

But the political links have not ended there. Former State Opposition
leader Kerry Chikarovski went one step further and flew to
Christchurch for the game.

Ms Chikarovski was one of more than 300 fans to attend a function at
the Christchurch Town Hall yesterday afternoon, where the NSW Rugby
Union had booked out a function room to entertain its supporters.

“There was no barrier to anyone coming along,” NSW Rugby Union chief
executive Fraser Neill said.

“But there was a dress code being enforced. You had to be wearing
blue.”