Clarke hattrick the highlight as Blues cruise in Japan

Caleb Clarke has wasted little time in getting his name in lights in his year of redemption. Back on deck for the Blues in their pre-season clash with the Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan yesterday, the 20-test All Blacks winger, who had last year dropped out of the national side’s top lineup, scored a hat-trick, highlighted by a particularly brilliant soaring effort, in his side’s crushing 57-22 win.

Known for his strong-running abilities, the 1.84m, 107kg flyer showed there is a decent dose of panache to go with the power, when sensationally flying on to a Stephen Perofeta cross-kick in the 35th minute. Fully outstretched, Clarke got both hands to the ball and, on TMO review, was just able to get the ball to ground before the dead-ball line.

Twenty minutes earlier, the No 11 had also eye-catchingly opened the scoring, sprinting in on the back of lovely deft hands from Hoskins Sotutu, Perofeta and Zarn Sullivan.

Then, as if the 24-year-old’s return to work couldn’t get much more fun, with the Blues holding a healthy 31-5 halftime advantage, Clarke was in for his third try less than two minutes into the second stanza with a typically hard and fast charge down the left flank.

He made way soon after, with new Blues coach Vern Cotter undoubtedly rapt with a man who had spent time training with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in December.

Elsewhere, Cotter would have been equally chuffed, as his side strongly backed up last week’s 43-7 win over Tokyo Sungoliath, with strong work at both set-pieces, as well as out wide, with Beauden Barrett again watching on from the stands in sunny but cool conditions.