Rugby: Rugby's wheel turns full circle for veteran Clarke

By WYNNE GRAY

Eroni Clarke's oxbow rugby life is about to be complete.

Like the river that turns back on itself, Clarke is primed to be Auckland centre this weekend after being an early-season reject and loaned to Bay of Plenty.

If the training ground mirrors reality, the seasoned centre will be turning out in the No 13 jersey for Auckland on Saturday when they play Southland in Invercargill.

For much of yesterday's training session, Clarke ran at centre, a position that he held regularly for Auckland for much of the last decade before he was discarded for this year's NPC.

However injuries, discipline and other backline uncertainties discovered during pre-NPC trial games meant Clarke was brought back rapidly into the squad. For the last two weekends he has been a reserve to Iliesa Tanivula, but for round three of the series, Clarke looks as though he will start.

Auckland's lineup will not be settled until today after the health and fitness of All Blacks Craig Dowd and Doug Howlett is assessed.

Coach Wayne Pivac repeated yesterday that he had been unaware that the All Blacks were staying an extra day in Sydney for a debrief on their way home from their final Tri-Nations test in South Africa.

"We were focused on what we were doing and I assumed they would be back after a Sunday test about Tuesday," said Pivac.

He disputed a reported comment from All Blacks manager Andrew Martin that another 24 hours would not make any difference to teams' NPC preparation.

Pivac cited the example of Howlett, who has been struggling with a knee problem and missed the All Blacks' trip to Africa.

The Auckland medical staff re-examined the wing on Monday and thought he might be fit for this weekend.

Howlett then flew to the All Blacks debrief in Sydney.

"Now we are told Doug will not be able to play for perhaps three weeks," said Pivac.

"That seems strange, so we will have to do another medical on him when we see him."

Dowd would be first choice as tighthead prop but his absence from training yesterday may upset that plan as the side went through a number of move and call changes.

"We have done a lot of work this week on organisation,"said Pivac, who was very disappointed about his side's narrow win against Counties Manukau.

Charles Reichelmann has recovered from his foot problem but Leo Lafaiali'i is troubled with a few minor injuries, while Andrew Blowers' wife is expecting their latest child any day, an event that could complicate the flanker's availability.