Caleb Clarke, the All Blacks wing descended from Irish potato-farmers

The sides will face off at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening.

HOMECOMING: Caleb Clarke at an All Blacks press conference at  the UCD Bowl. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Caleb Clarke’s Irish potato-farming roots will not stop the All Blacks wing steeling himself for an expected Ireland onslaught when New Zealand visit Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

The two great rivals will reprise a rivalry that has grown exponentially since Ireland secured their first victory over the then-world champions in Chicago in 2016. This week’s sell-out Dublin clash will be the first by a side coached by Scott “Razor” Robertson since assuming the reins following the 2023 World Cup, when Ian Foster’s side edged out the Irish in a breathtaking quarter-final in Paris.

Clarke, 25, was a squad member in France a year ago but looks set to face Ireland for the first time on Friday having revealed that some of his Samoan-New Zealand family’s roots can be traced back to Belfast.

“Northern Ireland is what I heard. Up north,” Clarke said when talking to media at New Zealand’s training base at UCD.

"Before they came to Samoa as potato farmers, that's about all I've got so far.

"It's probably why I like Guinness. I'm not a drinker, but when I tried it I was like 'Wow, that was so nice'.

"That's all I've heard, they came in the early '20s or the '40s to Samoa and started potato farming and from there the Clarkes sort of grew.

“It’s quite exciting. I was speaking to my family before we left for the northern tour and my dad and my grandad reminded me that I’ve Irish roots in me and that’s where the Clarkes came from before coming to Samoa.

“So yeah, it’s really exciting. It’s my first time here in Ireland as well. I know how much of a strength they are. So far it’s been James Lowe and Mack Hansen, and they’ve been two strong wingers as well. I remember I used to watch ‘Lowey’ back in the day when he was playing for the Chiefs. I call him by his nickname but I don’t know him that well but still, he’s pretty cool and it’s really exciting.” 

The Blues star said not too much energy was being expended on the All Blacks’ 28-24 quarter-final victory at Stade de France 13 months ago, only the threats Andy Farrell’s side have the potential to do to them in Dublin this Friday.

“It’s not too relevant to be fair. We sort of parked that to the side and moving forward we know how dangerous Ireland are as a team and what they bring. Playing here in Ireland is going to be a big task ahead.

“So, for us I think the quarter-final from last year has been pushed aside and we’re really focussing on what’s going to come and that’s a strong Irish team with strong Irish supporters, and we’ll be ready.

“I think the most important thing is what’s coming ahead and the big challenge that it’s going to be because we know there’s going to be a lot of fireworks out there whether that’s on the field or off the field, and we’ve just got to be prepared for all of that.” 

Clarke, who is set to win his 27th All Blacks cap on New Zealand’s left wing, has been well briefed by coaches and team-mates on what specifically to expect from his first Ireland clash.

“They just said to get ready for it, to get ready for the high balls. We know how strong they are in the aerial game, and for me that’s what I’m excited about as well, but on top of that it’s the crowd, the physicality and the aerial game are my three takeaways.

"It's taking it one moment at a time, whatever the call is out on the field it's about sticking together as a 23, even as a 36 that's here in Ireland - making sure we get through it."