Johnson’s men pay earthquake tribute as Cueto faces fight to tackle Argentina

Three days before England should have been opening their Rugby World Cup campaign in Christchurch, Martin Johnson led a red rose delegation on a goodwill visit to the earthquake-torn city.

England were scheduled to play their first two pool matches, against Argentina and Georgia, and a potential quarter-final at the recently-renovated AMI Stadium.

Christchurch’s role as host city survived earthquakes on September 4 and Boxing Day last year but a 6.3 magnitude tremor on February 22 devastated the city.

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The disaster claimed 182 lives and caused damage estimated at NZ$30billion (£15.5billion). City officials expect 1200 buildings will need to be demolished.

The AMI Stadium, formerly known as Lancaster Park, had just been given a £30mfacelift but the two main stands have sunk into the ground. The pitch looks like it is covered in mole-hills.

A decision still has to be made whether the stadium can be repaired but the portents for rugby ever being played there again are not good.

Johnson first visited the stadium for the first Lions Test against the All Blacks in 1993, shortly after being called up onto the tour as a replacement. “To see Lancaster Park, as I always think of it, in this state is really sad. This is a famous and iconic stadium. We should be here playing,” said Johnson.

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“When you see such a severe quake, it is not about rugby. It is tragic. We just go and play somewhere else – for the people here it is home.

“It was a no-brainer for us to come up and show our support.”

The February earthquake hit on a previously undiscovered fault line with 2.2 times the force of gravity.

The city centre remains cordoned off and much of it looks like a Hollywood film set or a scene from the blitz. Christchurch mayor Bob Parker described it as being “munted”.

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The iconic cathedral is being supported with steel taken from the floodlight towers at AMI Stadium. The dome of the Regency Theatre fell clean off.

The Crowne Plaza, which would have been England’s hotel, is to be pulled down. Whole streets are having to be demolished. Mayor Parker reported that “just about every house in the city needs to have some work done on it”.

There have been around 8000 aftershocks, which means engineers discover new buildings to condemn almost on a daily basis.

Half of the city’s underground infrastructure needs to be replaced. The bill is mounting, with insurance to meet most of the £15billion cost of redevelopment.

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And yet, despite all the devastation and the affected lives, there is an overwhelming sense of positivity from the city of Christchurch and from Mayor Parker.

New plans for a 21st century city have already been drawn up and rugby, unsurprisingly, is right at the heart of the vision.

England also visited the maternity unit at Christchurch Hospital and two schools, where they gave the local kids some coaching.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to get down here and show some support for a place we would have called home at one stage,” said injured captain Lewis Moody.

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Meanwhile, Mark Cueto is a doubt for England’s opening match against Argentina.

The Sale wing has been struggling with a lower back problem since the week of England’s final warm-up international against Ireland.

If Cueto misses the Pumas game London Irish full-back Delon Armitage is expected to start on the wing for the first time in a Test. An England spokesman refused to confirm whether Cueto was still in contention to face Argentina or not, saying only that he had trained.

Johnson names his team to face the Pumas this morning.

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