Fardy sees no heroics in his Japanese tsunami aid

SCOTT FARDY doesn’t c onsider himself a hero. He refuses to believe he did anything out of the ordinary in staying in Japan to help the rescue effort in the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated the country four years ago.

He cannot believe that others would not have done the same.

‘It wasn’t a tough decision,’ he said firmly.

But surely it must have been. After all, the Aus tralian government had told him they would evacuate him from Kamaishi — a city where 1,200 people died when the waves came ashore — as soon as he gave the word.

The lure of his native Sydney must have been strong. But Fardy refused. He had spent the previous two years playing for Kamaishi Seawaves and felt his bulk could be of use in the rescue effort. So he stayed, he unloaded trucks, he helped his community — he did what he thought he had to do.

‘ The option came f rom the Australian government,’ he said. ‘They came and said: “Do you want to get out of there?”.

‘I said no, let’s send the women and children home. That was the option we took. I think most people would have done the same thing.

‘I had been living in the town for two-and-a-half years at that stage. I had some roots there and decided it was necessary for me to stay during what was a tough time.

‘It is something I do look back on and think about. Four years ago I was there, now I’m in a World Cup.

‘I don’t think it is something that drives me as such, it was just a moment in my life. Things were bad, but it doesn’t drive my rugby.

‘I never personally suffered in any way. I was there at the time and had to make a decision.

‘I made the decision to stay and help. I wanted to help the people I hung around with and I think any of my team-mates would have done the same thing.

‘You saw the way that we played last weekend against Wales, down to 13 men. We do the tough things for each other and help each other out in difficult moments.’

And as Fardy (right) points out, don’t call him a hero.

‘I was just unloading trucks, taking supplies and then reloading the little vans that would go out to t he village,’ he added.

‘It was nothing compared to what other people f aced. Other guys had to do so much awful stuff.

‘I didn’t have to do it, see it or be a part of it. They deserve any press that goes their way as they were amazing.

‘The Japanese people were unbelievable, the way they looked after each other and stayed calm. It was incredible to be part of the country at that time.

‘I lived far enough up the valley and all we felt was the earthquake. It wasn’t until the guys came back from the factory down on the shore and told me big waves were coming in that it began to register.

‘That was when I pretended I was going out to go and get firewood, but I actually drove down and had a look at it all unfolding.

‘I saw cars floating down the street and the town on fire.

‘I was aware of what was going on, but even then I didn’t know how serious it was across the board, because we lost all power.

‘It wasn’t till 24 hours later, the next morning when I woke up and army trucks were coming in constantly that I realised it was much bigger than I first thought.

‘ I guess subconsciously your attitude to life changes. Life is too short when you see people whose livelihoods were destroyed one day by a freak of nature.

‘I would like to go back there eventually, not necessarily to live, but to see how it is doing because what happened there is something that changed me as a man.’

The Japanese have not forgotten. Fardy still receives messages from his former neighbours, and after last weekend’s miraculous win against Wales, some congratulated him in person.

‘I saw some people from Kamaishi after the Wales game, they came up and said hello,’ he smiled.

‘They asked for photos and you often get messages on Facebook, which I appreciate. They say good luck — and even send old and embarrassing photos.’

Yet, as with his rugby, Fardy would prefer it if his role remained in the shadows. He smiles when referred to as ‘the third man’, the quiet guy to the star turns of Michael Hooper and David Pocock.

Michael Cheika, the Wallaby coach, has joked Fardy had to grow his impressive beard simply to get noticed, but those in the team are well aware of what he can do as he cemented a place in the side after joining the Brumbies in 2012. ‘I prefer to be in the shadows, to be honest,’ he said. ‘I am there to help out the other guys that are the really good performers — the Hoopers, Pococks and ( Ka n e ) Douglases. ‘I help them be better players and do little things that make them perform to what they can. That’s my role in the side.

‘It is important we are pushing each other in the back row and we have the kind of unit that has a good depth. ‘ Scotland are a very resilient side, very tough. We know what we are coming up against. We will look more at them and come up with a game plan that will suit what we need to do to win.

‘ We are expecting a big, physical Scots team and are looking forward to it.’