Don Clarke

All Blacks full-back who kicked some of the most famous goals in rugby history

Donald Barry Clarke, rugby player: born Pihama, New Zealand 10 November 1933; married (one son, two daughters); died Johannesburg 29 December 2002.

The All Black legend Don Clarke was the man who beat the British and Irish Lions by himself. "Clarke 18, Lions 17", screamed newspaper headlines after the New Zealand full-back kicked a world-record six penalty goals to cancel out the Lions' four tries in the first Test in Dunedin in 1959. Clarke played 31 Tests for the All Blacks and was on the losing side only four times.

He scored 781 points for the All Blacks in 89 matches in a career lasting from 1956 until 1964, when he was forced to retire because of a knee injury. "The Boot", as Clarke was known, was a massive man. At 6ft 3in and 17st 6oz, he was usually the biggest All Black to take the field, but it was his goal-kicking that had the rugby world awestruck. A toe-kicker with a unique raised-arm action, Clarke kicked some of the most famous goals in rugby history. Apart from his world record-breaking effort against the Lions in 1959, he ignored an 80mph wind to slot a sideline conversion to beat France in Wellington in 1961, and went one better against the touring England side in 1969.

Five minutes from full time, with the scores locked at 6-6, Clarke took a mark on his side of half-way, in the days when players could kick for goal from a mark. Incredibly, Clarke took the ball back a further 10 yards. With his brother Ian holding the ball, Don Clarke kicked a 65-yard penalty goal to give the All Blacks a 9-6 victory.

In the 1960s, a charity kicking competition was held at the Olympic Stadium in Melbourne. A soccer goalkeeper, Aussie Rules punter, rugby league kicker and Don Clarke gathered to decide which code could kick the ball the furthest. The first three battled around the 70-yard mark before Clarke strolled up and kicked the ball out of the stadium on to the adjoining road. At half time in rugby matches, he used to practise kicking goals from half-way. In his bare feet.

Many fans felt that Clarke's huge size might limit his ability in other aspects of the game, but appearances were deceptive. He was a talented ball player, and a good pace bowler who played first-class cricket from 1951 until 1963.

Sir Wilson Whineray, who captained Clarke in all but six of his 31 Tests, said:

On the field he was like a huge energy force behind you. Even when he missed a kick, it could have a devastating effect on the opposition. He could kick them from his own 10-yard line, and we'd find opposition hookers were afraid to move, and that loose forwards would stay attached to scrums. He inhibited the whole opposition.

Clarke was born in Pihama, Taranaki, in 1933. When he was 10, his family moved to Waikato. He was always big for his age and played netball for two seasons when no age-group rugby teams could accommodate his size. Once he established his Test place, he was never dropped. His deputy for five seasons, Wellington's Mick Williment, had no qualms about sitting on the bench: "He was a fantastic player – he had so much confidence and inspired a team. I never for a moment felt anyone but Don Clarke should be the All Black full-back."

Clarke came from a rugby- playing family. On one famous occasion, against Thames Valley in 1961, five Clarke brothers – Don, Ian, Doug, Brian and Graeme – played for Waikato. Ian, who died in 1997 aged 66, played 83 matches including 24 Tests for the All Blacks.

After a stint in the liquor trade as a salesman, in 1977 Don Clarke moved his family to South Africa where he ran a tree-felling business. He remained loyal to his home country, though. "I've never regretted the move, but I'll be a New Zealander as long as my backside points to the ground. When I talk of we and us, I'm only ever referring to the All Blacks," he said.

Clarke was honoured by about 70 former team-mates at "A Decade with the Boot" at Eden Park in Auckland last year. The event was staged to help raise Clarke's spirits as he battled cancer, and his old mates took turns at sharing their stories. Sir Brian Lochore remembered how Clarke's popularity was often an advantage for his team-mates.

Don was a hero in England right through France and Britain. When we used to go to training and functions there would always be people waiting for autographs outside. We used to say to them, "Don Clarke's coming, Don Clarke's coming," and then we'd keep walking and not have to sign as many autographs.

Angus Morrison