^^^ +1; it'll rust before it breaks. Paint it,or "coat" with gorilla tape / electrical tape, or a bit of old innertube, and maybe it'll last long enough to break. Better choice would be a flat mending plate with only one hole at each end.

But +1 on the ingenuity; I have near-zero true fab skills, so I'm always finding "creative" solutions like this.

This rack needed a lower point to hook the pannier lower hook. Behind the tape is a strip of metal pipe strap wrapped around the rods, and a stainless bolt/nut. Version 2.0 will use innertube rubber.

(Eek, those pine needles get everywhere.....)