Tomorrow's second test against Ireland will be the first international in the city since August 2010 and the first at the new ground at Addington - built in just 100 days after the Lancaster Park ground fell victim to the earthquakes.
With seven Crusaders players in the starting line-up and coach Steve Hansen hailing from the city, they have a strong desire to put on a show for a staunch rugby public starved of top-level games and robbed of their matches in last year's Rugby World Cup carnival.
"The team, especially those from Christchurch, know that people have still been doing it tough so hopefully we can give them a performance on Saturday that puts a smile on their faces," said Hansen.
For Adam Thomson, elevated to the starting line-up in the absence of an injured Victor Vito, the city he grew up in is a shadow of its former self as the rebuild gears up.
"To come back and see it all changed is obviously quite devastating," he said.
But Thomson was coy on whether it would be used as a motivating factor.
"You don't really have to speak about it. Guys in the team realise what an occasion it is and what we're doing here."
The devastation wrought by the earthquakes was evident for Ireland after they took a bus trip through the central city red zone but captain Brian O'Driscoll was determined they would not be distracted by the broader significance of the match.
"I understand that it's going to be a hugely emotional return for the All Blacks," he said.
"But our tactics won't change you still have to have a cool head and remain focused on the job at hand."
