Super Rugby Pacific: Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck combining on and off-field in Blues' pre-season

They're a duo exciting Blues fans heading into the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, and Caleb Clarke's revealed how he's been helping the side's newest star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The All Blacks and Blues wing has been working closely with the former Warriors captain since his move from rugby league.

Clarke himself is settling back into the 15-man game, having not played since June following a brief switch to sevens.

And the pair are benefiting from a newly-formed friendship, and the two are getting so close, they're making each other cry at training.

Caleb Clarke scores for the All Blacks (2019).
Caleb Clarke scores for the All Blacks (2019). Photo credit: Image - Photosport

"Bro, there were some hard sessions, I was crying in one of them, that's how hard it was," Clarke says. "I never cry in a session."

Since joining the Blues from rugby league, Tuivasa-Sheck's developed many relationships - none closer than with Clarke, with the pair collaborating through Auckland's COVID-19 lockdown last year.

"We just sort of sat down together every morning just talking through different pictures, this was when it was just us two," Clarke adds. 

"But now he's got all of the coaches, boys like Stephen [Perofeta] and Harry [Plummer] and it's just awesome that he's growing in the game."

And that bond isn't going unnoticed.

"Those two have been training really hard," Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry says. 

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck trains with the Blues.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck trains with the Blues. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images

"Roger's just a sponge for information. He finds space and time to go talk to a coach or one of the players around some of the things that are confusing for him."

Clarke is one of those Tuivasa-Sheck's leaned on. It's understood the pair had a discussion early on - you teach me what you know, and I'll do the same.

"He's helped me with a bit of my footwork," says Clarke. 

"It's helped me on attack but I don't know if it's helped me on [defence], I'm still getting stepped here and there. But it's been good having someone of his calibre here at the Blues."

And as for how Clarke's helped his Tuivasa-Sheck?

"Hopefully the physicality side, he had to use me as a tackling ram, it was good though. 

"Over that lockdown period, I got to get that ball into contact work with him, sort of that ruck work as well, I enjoy that physical side."

Soon enough, it could be opposing fans shedding tears.