The Moana Pasifika first five had just got back from the airport last Saturday when he sat down to watch the Highlanders pay tribute to his late brother.
Before their thrilling win over the Blues, the entire Highlanders squad gathered to lead the crowd in a rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads.
They also performed the team haka in front of Garden-Bachop’s other brother, Toby Kennett, and presented him with a No 14 jersey.
It was to honour the memory of Connor Garden-Bachop, the former Highlanders outside back who died last June from a medical event, aged 25.
"It was so special, and we’re so grateful that the Highlanders pulled that off," Jackson told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"It was the perfect tribute and representation of what Connor was about. He was all about life and energy.
"To see the Zoo singing Country Roads and my brother on the screen bawling his eyes out ... it was pretty overwhelming."
Connor played 35 games for the Highlanders over four seasons and had signed for a club in Japan before his untimely death.
The family were very much aware what it meant to their late son and brother to be a Highlander, Jackson said.
"The Highlanders always showed so much love to my brother, and they have shown love to me when I catch up with any of them.
"Connor was really excited to go to Japan, but the main reason he didn’t want to leave is because he loved the Highlanders so much.
"He just didn’t want to leave the boys and leave Dunedin and leave the Highlanders.
"We have a very strong sense of how strong that relationship was both ways."
Jackson will put aside his warmth for the Highlanders when he leads Moana Pasifika into battle on the North Shore tonight.
The former Hurricanes and Rebels playmaker, who is the spitting image of father Stephen Bachop, a foundation Highlander, said he felt comfortable as soon as he joined the Pasifika club.
It felt like the team represented something bigger than rugby, he said.
And there was nobody bigger than former Hurricanes team-mate turned Moana captain Ardie Savea.
"On the field, everyone sees what he does there. But it’s his ability to be like that every day through the week to really drive the standards of how we should be training.
"He does a lot of work with the coaches and leaders around what’s best for the boys, and how we can maximise our energy and potential.
"He’s just a great guy to have. I think he’s living up to exactly what Moana would have wanted."
Jackson has also enjoyed working with Moana assistant coaches and former Highlanders Alando Soakai and Seilala Mapusua.
"I’ve had a good connection with Soaks through the Wellington environment, and he’s just carried that on into his role here.
"Maps is someone I had heard a lot about through the Samoan boys. They had high praise for him, and I’m seeing it now.
"He’s got an ability to balance detail with a really nice personal touch to motivate the boys."
Moana Pasifika will welcome back a former player, Timoci Tavatavanawai, who has been in exceptional form for the Highlanders.
"We’ve got an appropriate level of fear of that dude.
"But we’re confident. If we can shut that down, there’s an opportunity there, because the Highlanders rely on a lot of the big plays that he pulls out."
