Has time run

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Has time run out for Eroni?

Byatama Raganivatu

Eroni Clarke could be forgiven for doubting, despite his stupendous form and consistency during the past couple of years, if he will ever again don the New Zealand national rugby union team’s famous black kit he wore in 1993.

If the international arena recalls Clarke, loud and wide applause will greet his return. He remains, in defiance of the frus trations of the recent times, amongst sport’s few genuine nice guys. The con stantly amiable, modest and approachable Clarke is a devoted family man and Christian.

Clarke insists that his ability to play rugby brilliantly is purely a blessing from God. Others may suggest that his genes played a role too.

Clarke comes from a gifted sporting clan. His father, lafeta, represented Western Samoa at rugby; his mother, Tueipi, was an accomplished netball play er; his only sister, Sheryl, is a New Zealand netball international and Egelagi, one of four brothers, currently plays American football for the University of Hawaii.

Apia-bom Eroni was two when moving to Auckland with his parents and six when he witnessed his first rugby test.

New Zealand beat Scotland 24-0 that day - Clarke remembers the occasion well.

He says: “I was fascinated by the All Blacks. I thought they were awesome. I asked my father how I could become an All Black and he told me I needed education, dedication and commitment if I were to succeed. So, I had that goal from a very early age!”

That Clarke would become an All Black was little in doubt from the time he broke into the Auckland under 16 selection in 1984. The Queen City’s under 17 and under 18 sides provided him with a natural

progression to the New Zealand national under 18 line-up.

Due to the rich seam of talent then on tap for the Auckland senior team selectors, Clarke had to wait until 1991 before win ning a place in that star-studded combina tion. He quickly made his presence felt.

Two tries on debut versus Nelson Bays followed by another electrifying pair of touchdowns as Queensland came under attack. The latter match on nation-wide television, immediately had fans the length and breadth of New Zealand clamouring for him to gain higher honours. They got their wish. The New Zealand XV (an unof ficial national B selection) chose him that year for fixtures opposing touring Rumanian and USSR outfits.

His devastation of Queensland proved to be a double edged sword. Clarke had played on the wing against “The Bananabenders” and he harboured grave reservations about playing there. Centre was the position he occupied for the entire ty of his school days and has always been his own preferred duty. He lacks confi dence when located elsewhere. Still, beg gars, he reasoned, can’t be choosers and, in view of the depth of talented and proven players available to both Auckland and New Zealand, he was happy to appear wherever requested.

To be named as an All Black to face a World XV in 1992, delighted Clarke - even though Frank Bunce occupied the centre’s berth. “It was an honour to pull on the black jersey,” he raves. “It was a dream come true to play for my adopted country.

I represented so many people when I played for the All Blacks and you are for ever mindful that the team is the cream of all the rugby players in New Zealand.”

He scored tries in each of his initial four test matches, but never looked truly com fortable at rugby’s highest echelon when

placed at second five eighth or on the wing.

Clarke appeared in the former position when a woeful New Zealand succumbed 9- 15 to England in 1993. It was his eighth and, to date, last test appearance. The next brace of domestic terms were arduous as Auckland continually moved Clarke along the backline. Although The Auks dominat ed the National Championship, his form suffered and he even briefly mulled over a possible switch to rugby league.

Thankfully, his days as a utility back ended in 1996 when Auckland Blues’ coach Graham Henry wisely decided to give Clarke a permanent spot as centre for the Blues’ inaugural Super Twelve cam paign. The Samoan rewarded Henry by becoming an immensely influential figure in that astonishingly successful tourna ment. With Clarke in devastating form throughout both seasons, the blues were Super Twelve champions in 1996 and 1997.

Yet, in defiance of Clarke’s obvious credentials, the All Black selectors have refused to restore him to international ranks. After almost a decade of reluctantly rejecting overtures to link with Manu Samoa, Clarke seriously pondered over the possibilities of appearing for the land of his birth a year ago.

Clarke, who has toured Britain with the Samoan Barbarians and happily turned out for the New Zealand Samoans unit, stated recently; “I am proud of being Samoan and it was a hard decision to choose between Manu Samoa and the All Blacks, yet I was raised in New Zealand and graduated through the New Zealand coaching system.

Therefore, I reckoned I owed it to the Kiwis to play for the All Blacks.”

However, it was not mere patriotism that made Clarke contemplate the Manu Samoa option. A prominent English rugby union club approached him with a very lucrative offer, before adding he might find it difficult to acquire a British work permit if he was unable to claim himself as an established international.

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union, upon learning of what Clarke was considering, made a proposition them selves - a reported NZ$6OO,OOO per year through to 2001 if he agreed to remain in Auckland. Clarke, a career’s advisor before the arrival of professional rugby, accepted and effectively ended any hopes of being seen in the blue and white of Manu Samoa. ■