August 29, 2025 • 5 mins
Auckland are looking to pick up their first win of the season.
They’re sitting on 0-4, and are set to face Wellington – a side who’s title defence has gotten off to a shaky start, sitting at 1-3.
Caleb Clarke joined D’Arcy Waldegrave ahead of the match for a chat about what Auckland needs to do to turn their season around.
Plus, they touch on the messages Clarke’s received from the All Blacks staff around his return to rugby, having not played since the Blues’ semifinal loss to the Crusaders earlier in the year.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk Zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Bring kay like tomorrow pretty big for you, Blake. So
I don't need to tell you what you haven't done
this year as far as points, because you'd be well
aware of that it's not looking great results wise. But
what's been your primary focus this week leading into this
Wellington MPC fextuet.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Oh, good morning, good morning?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
A few different things, and I think you know number one,
you know the results haven't been going our way, but
I saw of look at this team and at such
a young team, So just playing on a bit of confidence,
just building the confidence over the week we've said and
sort of the leaders have been saying to the team
around nailing our role. I think each game that we've
done with other started too slow or we've dropped off
(00:56):
right at the end. So it's just all about nailing
your role at the moment and making sure.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That you know where we're fighting for every.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Moment and heah, just get those moments stepped up on
each other will be good to go.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You probably don't want to be called to senior player,
but Lea's face it, you are so how much of this,
are you caring? You spend a bit of times with
the younger players, specifically around what's required and how they
go about this Bosinis because she's not easy.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah, I've sort of reflected on that over the last
few weeks that I've been training with thoughts to him.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
You know, I didn't want to come into the team.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
And just start shouting and trying to assert dominance, but
at the same time, I wanted to also just give
gentle nudges towards the right direction that you know, I've
learned from the leaders that I've learned from. So yeah,
it's been it's been a pretty cool, cool journey so far.
Like I look at this team and there's probably five
or six of us that over the age of twenty five,
So it's just been working.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Alongside all of them.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Just yeah, again, just putting the confidence in the boys
because they're such talented.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It's such a talented.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Group and they're all real young that have both heap
of talent but also things to learn. So I think
that's that's sort of been my role so far.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And yeah, at.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The same time, just trying to compete and keep of
all these young ones.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
What you'd remember when you first started playing MPC quite overpowering, overwhelming.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah yeah, and like coming in as sort of an
eighteen year old, eighteen year old kid, I had actually
had one of the coaches, John Hickey, was I was
playing alongside him.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
So it's just real cool to to sort of look
back at that journey.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
This will be my first Aukland game since twenty twenty
as well, so again just getting to put on the
blue and white hoops and run out for you know,
the province I grew up in that my my family
played for, and yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It's just real exciting, hugely.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So talk to us about Wellington because they it's so
good that they all Blacks Razor and the like have
laid a whole lot of all Blacks off the least
like sixteen of you playing over the weekend. I mean,
that is superb for the competition. But Wellington have got
four pretty keen weep speaking talk about timing.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
I was going to miss all of them and be like, hey,
gentlemen's agreement please.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
But it's exciting and I know it's for the boys
to get up there and have a bit of game.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Home is real important as well, just as much it
is for me to get up there and get to
play some games again.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So now it's really exciting. I know it'll shake a
few things up. The Shield challenge.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I think it's Wyattle in Southland and I thought, you know,
maybe gruder and severe A M not going to.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Play, but that's all right, But it's really exciting for
the game.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We've got a situation where the All Blacks took a
bit of a wobble last week and you can call
it that. You know which way you'll go, but I
don't know if you're going to be rolled into the
team or not. The thought patterns is, but what are
the conversations you've had with All Blacks about what they
want out of you against Wellington on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Yeah, they're just happy to see me back up there
was the first and foremost. It's been maybe six weeks
since I got injured leading up to that second French Test,
so yeah, just getting up there was the first thing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
But then getting involved making sure I'm using my left.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Foot kick as well was a big point that Jason
wanted me to to work through. And then also just
that aerial game and getting up competing and.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Winning both sides of the bar it was sort of
my main focus is.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
So yeah, that's sort of what I'm going into and
also just making sure I'm having fun with the boys.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
How's your carcass anyway? After the injuries anything? What smart?
You're ready to go one hundred percent?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah? Yeah, I was saying before that sort of this
time being injured is giving me the you know, the
time to reflect back and got me physically sharper than
I was in the All Blacks and lots of lost
a couple of kilos from when I was playing in.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Super So Yeah, it's just it's really exciting and I'm
just ready to go now.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I think I found my spark again after what has
been a pretty rough year for me so far, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Just ready to play and play freely as well. So yeah, any.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Hints from Razor and his boys about maybe you playing
next week indo, you can you tell me?
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Oh no, I I haven't had much indication around that,
but all my comm from members is they just wanted
to go up there and have fun and play my
game that that they know I can do. So yeah,
that's that's all I've had and it's been quite encouraging
to hear from that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
As well, really forward to it should be a cracker
a game. You guys have got a whole lot to
play for it, make it count and not all these
gentlemen's agreements. But once you walk over the white line,
there are no gentlemen in rugby.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Surely, exactly exactly so, so I'll make room and loves
at the back too.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So it'll be quite coolcause that training and all that
training has.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Always me and him going up against each other for
the high wards.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So don't be exciting out there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Play hard, play fair and as you said, play with
a huge smile on your face. And I know that's
what you do. Caleib Clark, thanks so much for your time.
You look after yourself.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Thank you for more from the Your Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk z'd be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk Zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Bring kay like tomorrow pretty big for you, Blake. So
I don't need to tell you what you haven't done
this year as far as points, because you'd be well
aware of that it's not looking great results wise. But
what's been your primary focus this week leading into this
Wellington MPC fextuet.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Oh, good morning, good morning?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
A few different things, and I think you know number one,
you know the results haven't been going our way, but
I saw of look at this team and at such
a young team, So just playing on a bit of confidence,
just building the confidence over the week we've said and
sort of the leaders have been saying to the team
around nailing our role. I think each game that we've
done with other started too slow or we've dropped off
(00:56):
right at the end. So it's just all about nailing
your role at the moment and making sure.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That you know where we're fighting for every.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Moment and heah, just get those moments stepped up on
each other will be good to go.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You probably don't want to be called to senior player,
but Lea's face it, you are so how much of this,
are you caring? You spend a bit of times with
the younger players, specifically around what's required and how they
go about this Bosinis because she's not easy.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah, I've sort of reflected on that over the last
few weeks that I've been training with thoughts to him.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
You know, I didn't want to come into the team.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
And just start shouting and trying to assert dominance, but
at the same time, I wanted to also just give
gentle nudges towards the right direction that you know, I've
learned from the leaders that I've learned from. So yeah,
it's been it's been a pretty cool, cool journey so far.
Like I look at this team and there's probably five
or six of us that over the age of twenty five,
So it's just been working.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Alongside all of them.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Just yeah, again, just putting the confidence in the boys
because they're such talented.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It's such a talented.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Group and they're all real young that have both heap
of talent but also things to learn. So I think
that's that's sort of been my role so far.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And yeah, at.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The same time, just trying to compete and keep of
all these young ones.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
What you'd remember when you first started playing MPC quite overpowering, overwhelming.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah yeah, and like coming in as sort of an
eighteen year old, eighteen year old kid, I had actually
had one of the coaches, John Hickey, was I was
playing alongside him.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
So it's just real cool to to sort of look
back at that journey.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
This will be my first Aukland game since twenty twenty
as well, so again just getting to put on the
blue and white hoops and run out for you know,
the province I grew up in that my my family
played for, and yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It's just real exciting, hugely.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So talk to us about Wellington because they it's so
good that they all Blacks Razor and the like have
laid a whole lot of all Blacks off the least
like sixteen of you playing over the weekend. I mean,
that is superb for the competition. But Wellington have got
four pretty keen weep speaking talk about timing.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
I was going to miss all of them and be like, hey,
gentlemen's agreement please.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
But it's exciting and I know it's for the boys
to get up there and have a bit of game.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Home is real important as well, just as much it
is for me to get up there and get to
play some games again.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So now it's really exciting. I know it'll shake a
few things up. The Shield challenge.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I think it's Wyattle in Southland and I thought, you know,
maybe gruder and severe A M not going to.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Play, but that's all right, But it's really exciting for
the game.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We've got a situation where the All Blacks took a
bit of a wobble last week and you can call
it that. You know which way you'll go, but I
don't know if you're going to be rolled into the
team or not. The thought patterns is, but what are
the conversations you've had with All Blacks about what they
want out of you against Wellington on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Yeah, they're just happy to see me back up there
was the first and foremost. It's been maybe six weeks
since I got injured leading up to that second French Test,
so yeah, just getting up there was the first thing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
But then getting involved making sure I'm using my left.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Foot kick as well was a big point that Jason
wanted me to to work through. And then also just
that aerial game and getting up competing and.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Winning both sides of the bar it was sort of
my main focus is.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
So yeah, that's sort of what I'm going into and
also just making sure I'm having fun with the boys.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
How's your carcass anyway? After the injuries anything? What smart?
You're ready to go one hundred percent?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah? Yeah, I was saying before that sort of this
time being injured is giving me the you know, the
time to reflect back and got me physically sharper than
I was in the All Blacks and lots of lost
a couple of kilos from when I was playing in.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Super So Yeah, it's just it's really exciting and I'm
just ready to go now.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I think I found my spark again after what has
been a pretty rough year for me so far, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Just ready to play and play freely as well. So yeah, any.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Hints from Razor and his boys about maybe you playing
next week indo, you can you tell me?
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Oh no, I I haven't had much indication around that,
but all my comm from members is they just wanted
to go up there and have fun and play my
game that that they know I can do. So yeah,
that's that's all I've had and it's been quite encouraging
to hear from that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
As well, really forward to it should be a cracker
a game. You guys have got a whole lot to
play for it, make it count and not all these
gentlemen's agreements. But once you walk over the white line,
there are no gentlemen in rugby.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Surely, exactly exactly so, so I'll make room and loves
at the back too.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So it'll be quite coolcause that training and all that
training has.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Always me and him going up against each other for
the high wards.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So don't be exciting out there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Play hard, play fair and as you said, play with
a huge smile on your face. And I know that's
what you do. Caleib Clark, thanks so much for your time.
You look after yourself.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Thank you for more from the Your Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk z'd be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.