All Blacks: Caleb Clarke eyes return for Auckland instead of trip to Perth – Stuff.co.nz

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Caleb Clarke, who played five tests for the All Blacks in his breakout season in 2020, will return to the 15-man game with Auckland but says he wont play for them this weekend.

Caleb Clarke has a plan, and it doesnt involve joining the All Blacks on a flight to Perth on Sunday.

Instead, Clarke, fresh out of MIQ, intends to return to the 15-man game as a member of an Auckland backline that may also include ex-Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson speaks to the Breakdown about a couple of the hot topics of the rugby week.

Named as a travelling reserve for the All Blacks Sevens team that secured silver at the Olympics, Clarke never took the field in Tokyo and hasnt played since the Oceania Sevens Challenge tournament in Townsville in late June.

Good enough to make five appearances for the All Blacks last year, Clarke made the bold call to skip the earlier part of the test programme, so he could have a crack at the Olympics.

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While isolated in a Christchurch hotel he watched the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup, and experienced pangs of jealousy as Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane and Will Jordan operated on the wings against the Wallabies in both tests.

Yet Clarke says he still didnt question the decision to trade a potential start for the All Blacks for a trip to the Olympics.

I loved this (sevens) team, just being a part of it, he said. Definitely no regrets.

Clarke was unsure whether he would try to play sevens in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year, but indicated it may be unlikely.

I feel like I have tried my best. I have said it before, even before coming into sevens, that I wanted to look back at my career and have my best shot at the Olympics. And I feel like I did that.

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Caleb Clarke tries to break a tackle while playing for the All Blacks Sevens team against Fiji in the Oceania Sevens Challenge in Townsville in late June.

While in MIQ, he fielded calls from All Blacks coach Ian Foster and Blues coach Leon MacDonald but said not all the discussions were related to rugby.

A lot was about where my mindset was at, how I have dealt with the last few weeks, and what I am looking forward to once I get back playing the 15-man game.

Riding a stationary bike, and doing push-ups and squats, as well as being careful with his food intake, ensured Clarke remained in good shape prior to getting back home.

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Beauden Barrett celebrates with Caleb Clarke after the Blues won the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final against the Highlanders this season.

While keen to get back to the rugby field, Clarke was encouraged by Foster not to rush back; he confirmed hes not expected to play for Auckland against Bay of Plenty at Eden Park on Saturday night, which means he isnt going to be asked to fly to Perth as the All Blacks prepare for the dead rubber against the Wallabies next weekend.

Some of the conversations were to have a little break, which was quite strange given that we have just got out of quarantine, but it was more just around the mental side of around being able to see family and friends and to have a last little break-up of the sevens (squad) as well.

When, or if, Clarke will represent the All Blacks in 2021 is uncertain.

Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Braydon Ennor, Jordan, Reece and Ioane, who can all play on the wing, were named in the squad for the Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas all possibly to be played in Perth because of the pandemic.

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All Blacks Sevens squad member Caleb Clarke (right) looks on during a welcome home ceremony for the New Zealand Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games team at Christchurch Airport on Monday.

I will just be with Auckland, that is where my mindset is at the moment, Clarke said.

It is up to Fozzie. It is in his and all the selectors hands, which I am happy with. I am not in any rush to be anywhere.

I am just really looking forward to playing 15s rugby. I know I am just excited to get out and play, and it will be awesome to play with Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) as well.

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