New dad Clarke aims to keep cup dream alive
Not only is he leading his new club into the final pool match with a Heineken Cup quarter-final spot up for grabs but he is also celebrating the birth in Galway of his first child.
“It certainly adds another dimension to your life, changes your perspective, and I am on cloud nine a little bit,” the former Super 15-winning captain said.
Although he missed last weekend’s win over Zebre due to a neck injury, it also coincided with the birth of daughter Isabella, which allowed him to spend more time at home. This week, however, his focus returned to Connacht’s Heineken Cup fixture on Saturday — a challenge Clarke equates with his experience with the Chiefs in New Zealand.
“It’s like the run home in Super Rugby when a game can be riding on something like home advantage,” he said. “In this case there is a fair bit riding on this game because we need to win to play further in the competition. Having experienced that, you get a taste for it and want to do it again.”
While Connacht are entering new territory in Allianz Park, having never been in contention for a quarter-final place at this juncture in the competition, Clarke’s experience and calming influence is regarded as vital in helping youngsters play the game, not the occasion.
“It’s about getting things right in training week, being as clear as you can before the game and, if that goes according to plan, then you can enjoy the occasion more and not be overawed by everything and bogged down by what you are meant to do. You can say, ‘yeah, this is pretty cool and I am going to play well’,” he said.
In a pack that has provided a consistent platform for Connacht’s young backs, Clarke stands out for his lineout organisation.
“I am reasonably happy with how things are going in my own game. I am pretty happy with how the set-pieces are going. I enjoy being part of a forward pack that is certainly not beaten, and we get on top of a few teams.”
