Auckland veteran's faith survives tests

By CHRIS RATTUE

Eroni Clarke got a mention he will never forget after his Auckland debut in 1991, in an away Ranfurly Shield defence against Nelson Bays.

It was John Kirwan's 100th Auckland appearance, and his after-match speech mentioned it was Clarke's first.

"Milestones are important in the Auckland team. The senior guys always talked about that - they were games you wanted to remember," says Clarke.

Clarke, the 33-year-old survivor who has played second-five eighths, his favoured centre position and wing, is set to play his 150th match for Auckland on Saturday evening.

Appropriately, it will be in a local derby against North Harbour at Eden Park. Among Clarke's strongest rugby memories are the Harbour clashes, especially the 1994 NPC final, a brutal encounter he observed from the safety of the wing at rickety Onewa Domain.

"It started between Robin [Brooke] and Rushie [Eric Rush]. There were blokes sent off, cuts and bruises - one of the toughest games I've been in. There's that extra edge against Harbour."

Few have reached the 150-game milestone. In Auckland, the club will number seven when Clarke joins Snow White, Alan and Gary Whetton, Sean Fitzpatrick, Andy Haden and Grant Fox.

The team Clarke joined in 1991, including a few of those characters, was a juggernaut of New Zealand rugby. But his 14th and blazer game - another of those important milestones - was a disappointing loss to Queensland at Ballymore.

Clarke instead prefers to remember his first game against Queensland - his second for Auckland - when he marked the super-quick Wallaby Ian Williams at Eden Park.

Clarke stepped and turned Williams to score, and beat a posse of defenders for another.

"That game changed my life," says Clarke. "It thrust me into the spotlight ... attention, the whole thing. They said I was All Black material and that sort of thing."

He played 10 tests but was out of the side for five years until a recall in 1998.

Clarke still yearns for test action.

With the conviction of a young buck, he says: "It is a privilege playing for Auckland ... and I wouldn't be playing unless I thought I could still make the Blues, or win national honours.

"If you don't think like that then you are wasting other people's time ... your coaches, your team-mates.

"Nothing makes you prouder than wearing the All Black jersey. I believe I've got the goods to be there and I say that with humility. You've got to believe."

Clarke's belief was tested, though, when Auckland coach Wayne Pivac loaned him to Bay of Plenty in 2000.

Clarke, whose Christianity is well known, says his faith helped him through that sporting crisis, just as he looked to a higher power when deciding to reject huge overseas offers to stay in this country.

The night Clarke, wife Siala and their three young children arrived at a Rotorua hotel, Pivac called to say Clarke was - after all - needed in Auckland.

Through thick and thin, Clarke has emerged as an Auckland legend, and he still plans one more season at the top.

He even prepared this year with extra sprint work under athletics coach Kerry Hill, who coached Clarke in a junior representative rugby side.

Clarke said: "Tough times build character. And I've always had a lot of support ... my parents, my brothers and sisters.

"It is the same with our family now. We are strong together and support each other.

"When I first played for Auckland, I just wanted to get my blazer. It's gone so quickly ... kind of crept up on me."