Rugby: Shunned Clarke heads for BoP

By WYNNE GRAY

Eroni Clarke, the Auckland rugby backline general in recent years, has joined captain Robin Brooke in the surplus-to-requirements department.

Rather than playing in his regular blue and white stripes this season, Clarke will be kitted out in the blue and gold of Bay of Plenty in division two of the NPC.

Instead of travelling to Waiheke Island today with Auckland for their training camp and trial game with Canterbury, Clarke is in camp with his new union. He trained with them yesterday and will play in a trial game against Counties Manukau at Rotorua on Friday.

The 31-year-old midfield back, who played the first of his 123 matches for Auckland in 1991, has been loaned to Bay of Plenty, much like lock Jason Chandler.

"When we heard Eroni was available we leaped at the chance because we have a very young backline and his experience will be really valuable," said Bay of Plenty coach Gordon Tietjens.

"It is great for the union. We aspire to make the first division and believe Eroni will be a great help for young Justin Wilson in midfield."

Clarke played 10 tests for the All Blacks. He was overlooked after 1992 and 93, reselected in 1998, but missed much of last season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon.

Bay of Plenty had lost experienced midfielder Nathan Strongman to Japan after three solid years and finding an appropriate replacement had been difficult.

"For a union like us, if you lose a topliner it is sometimes hard to find someone else. We have given Auckland a lot of players down the years such as Caleb Ralph, Adrian Cashmore and Steve McDowell, so perhaps they are returning the favour," Tietjens said. Clarke is expected to start as second five-eighths when Bay of Plenty play their opening NPC game away against Wanganui on August 13.

Auckland coach Wayne Pivac will probably use Iliesa Tanivula at centre with Craig Innes at second five-eighths, and Amasio Valence, Mils Muliana, Rico Gear or Orene Ai'i as backup midfielders. Clarke did not fit the reserve ticket.

"We have been talking about it for a while. It has not been an easy decision, but now Eroni is on a loan situation with the Bay. He has been injured a fair bit this year but seems to be fine now," Pivac said.

Flanker Mark Carter has an ankle injury and will not play tomorrow. Suburbs clubmate Stephen Bates has been brought into the Auckland squad as cover.