Caleb Clarke hopes to return from concussion to lift the All Blacks’ spirits for their final test of the year in Cardiff while another squad member has been ruled out.
Tevita Mafileo won’t take part in this week’s final test of the season after scans confirmed a rib fracture, sustained during training.
Chiefs prop George Dyer has been brought in from the All Blacks XV squad as training cover, while Devan Flanders has also joined the squad as training cover after Fabian Holland missed the England defeat due to illness.
Holland, who was overnight nominated for the World Rugby breakthrough player of the year award, is expected to be available for selection. All Blacks XV loose forward Christian Lio-Willie remains in camp as training cover following Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson’s return to New Zealand.
In a stop-start year punctuated by injuries that, to this point, have restricted him to three test appearances, Clarke has been among the All Blacks’ best performers when fit to lock down his status as the first-choice left wing.
While the All Blacks could promote Rieko Ioane (before he begins his six-month stint with Irish club Leinster) and Sevu Reece to start on the wings this weekend, Clarke is pushing hard to return for Wales after missing the dispiriting loss to England at Twickenham following his head knock against Scotland.
“I’m grateful to get through with no major head injuries. I was really gutted to miss that big occasion at Twickenham. I love playing against the English so it was hard to be in the stands and a hard one to watch as well,” Clarke said as the All Blacks trained on a clear and crisp autumn morning at the St Peters RFC.
“I’m excited to be back. I want to try and finish on a high.”
No matter the backdrop, Clarke projects inherent enthusiasm which, in a week where the All Blacks are attempting to park their Grand Slam hangover, could be welcomed.
“Naturally, I’m a person with high spirits, so I’m bringing the energy at training and trying to put a few smiles on the boys’ faces. This is our job and we love to win but we’re humans and we need to enjoy the game to play at our best.
“And around the aerial side, I’ll try bring my skills and a bit of go forward. I’ll try to copy Leicester [Faingaʻanuku] and bump someone off.”
The All Blacks welcomed Sydney Swans AFL coach Dean Cox into camp before their first match of this tour against Ireland in Chicago, with Clarke and other outside backs soaking up his catching expertise. The team’s struggles to negate their flaws under the high ball have largely continued, though.
“It goes back to the rules and how they’ve changed it. They’ve taken away the protection,” Clarke said. “In the past, we’ve had the time and the space to get up and take the ball cleanly where now it’s a competition.
“Looking at the English wingers, they were trying to put out their hand and interrupt the catch. It’s on us to get our hands high and catch the ball cleanly and getting back to those fundamentals.”
Clarke has fond memories of the Principality Stadium after the All Blacks scored eight-tries-to-two, with Jordie Barrett, Codie Taylor and Aaron Smith bagging braces, in their 55-23 victory over Wales three years ago.
That was the All Blacks’ last venture to Cardiff, and Clarke’s first.
“The atmosphere, and having the roof closed built the noise. I remember the Welsh anthem and standing there thinking ‘wow’.”
This weekend, should he return to start on the left edge, Clarke could mark NFL convert Louis Rees-Zammit, the widely popular figure in Welsh rugby after his return following two years with NFL teams the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs, initially as a running back before trying out as a wide receiver.
Rees-Zammit has since joined Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears and played two matches – one start last week against Japan – for Wales.
“He’s fast, big, strong. He went over to the NFL and had a crack at that. I remember messaging him saying ‘if they need another winger let me know’. It’s awesome to see him back. He’s a big lift for Welsh rugby. I know he loves being in that jersey. Tell him not to gas me if we’re both on the field.”
Some pundits have suggested the 24-year-old Rees-Zammit wasted two years chasing the NFL dream but Clarke reflected on his pursuit of the sevens scene to praise his counterpart.
“I look back at the time I had a crack at the Olympics and that set me aside from the All Blacks but that’s my story and that’s what I wanted to do. That’s the same thing for him. He can look back after his career is done and say he had a go at different things. I’m proud of him for that. He’s opened the door for other rugby players like Jordan [Petaia] from Australia doing the same thing.”
Aside from Clarke’s enthusiasm to return this weekend also marks All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland’s final week with the team as he prepares to move on at the end of the season.
“I don’t know if it’s been heightened because we lost last week but there’s real determination to make sure we all do everything we can to get a performance on Saturday,” Holland said. “We’ll worry about everything else after that.”
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.