Shawn Mackay would have wanted his teammates to play and beat the Cape Town Stormers in a Super 14 rugby match this weekend.
But no player would be under any pressure to take to the field so soon after Mackay’s tragic death, ACT Brumbies coach Andy Friend said on Wednesday.
”I’m like everyone, devastated at the news,” Friend told the Canberra Times.
”But life does go on and we’ve got to make sure we’re doing what ‘Macca’ would have wanted us to do, which is play on and beat the Stormers this weekend.” The entire club has been rocked by Mackay’s death, which the touring group learned about only minutes after landing at Sydney airport on Monday after completing a three-week tour of South Africa.
Some players had particularly close relationships with Mackay, including scrumhalf and former schoolmate Patrick Phibbs and outside back Matt Toomua, who was Mackay’s housemate. Toomua stayed with other players on Monday night.
Friend said it was possible some players would choose not to play on Saturday and their wishes would be respected.
”This is an absolute tragedy and we’ve got a lot of young players who have never dealt with anything like this in the past. If players aren’t up for playing we’re certainly not going to make them play.”
Most Brumbies players and staff attended a prayer service at their Griffith headquarters on Tuesday conducted by club chaplain David McDonald. They met later for a team barbecue.
Friend said it was too early for most players to be thinking of Saturday’s game at Canberra Stadium. It is unlikely the team will train until at least Thursday.
”I spoke to a few of the boys last night, texted a few this morning and they’re all trying to deal with it the best that they can … one of our boys hasn’t come back and that makes it very hard. They’re devastated.
”I don’t think anyone’s thinking of playing footy. We’re just trying to help each other through and our thoughts are with Macca’s family and his girlfriend Trish.” Already reeling from Mackay’s death, the Brumbies will have to get through the rest of the Super14 season without Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm.
Chisholm suffered a dislocation of his wrist during last Sunday’s 40-27 win against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and has undergone close reduction surgery in hospital in Durban to reduce the risk of inflammation through flying.
Chisholm will not play for six to eight weeks and will return home to Australia on Wednesday.
”He’s a senior member of our pack, he’s an integral member of our lineout and he gives the side great gain line with ball in hand,” Friend said. ”As a squad we’ll be doing what we can to give Mark an opportunity to return and play in the finals with us in seven weeks time.”
Friend will name his team for the Stormers match on Thursday. Lock-flanker Henry Vanderglas is a strong chance of being called into the squad.
Support for the Brumbies continued to flow on Wednesday, including from the NSW Waratahs.
Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said Mackay’s death would affect every Australian team this weekend. Chris Hickey, who has worked with Friend previously, phoned his counterpart to offer support.
‘While there’s a lot of rivalry between the four Australian provinces, when something like this happens, I think everyone comes together,” Hickey said. – Sapa