presented his players with an offer they could not refuse.

Huddled with his team at the centre of the Police Recreation pitch under a slate gray sky, Clark asked them for keener focus and extra hustle during a workout which would include all the features of an actual game.

The payoff? Thirty minutes on the field instead of the regular 90.

The players bought the deal.

The pre-workout conversation is one way how Clark, 39, has been relating to his squad during the last few days leading up to Saturday's sudden-death World Cup qualifying match against Bermuda at National Sports Club (3 p.m.).

It has been exactly that way since Clark took over the Eagles' head coaching reins last summer.

His aim has been to be as direct and to the point as possible. It is the only way he knows how to deal with people.

All the Eagles know exactly what they are supposed to be doing at any given moment.

"I think that when you're spending a week together it's pretty important that expectations are really clear, I mean, you know the fellows want to perform and they want to meet your expectations, so it's a matter of just sharing whatever you're thinking with them,'' said Clark after yesterday's morning workout.

"We've had a couple of hard practices this week, so what we did today is try to crank up some focus and we shortened practice considerably. We're not trying to get in shape at this point. We're just trying to get ready to play a match. I'm conscious about not leaving our game on the practice field.'' Clark, along with assistant coach Dan Porter and manager Edward Schram have been busy trying to make certain the Eagles click for Saturday's match.

It has become the most urgent challenge facing a team that has been assembled for the first time since November.

"Well, it's just one of the challenges of US rugby,'' said Clark. "We just don't have a lot of time assembled as a team. We don't have a lot of money and it costs us a healthy percentage of our annual budget just to look each other in the eye, in other words for us all to meet in a given city anywhere in the world. So much of our preparation is done in isolation of one another.'' With the exception of yesterday, Clark has been making the most of robust two-a-day workouts and is taking full advantage of finally having his team together again.

Since taking over as head coach of the Eagles, Clark has been in charge of the squad for a pair of games, losses to Canada (20-9) and Australia (26-22).

As head coach of the University of California, where rugby is a varsity sport, his overall record is an astounding 198-34-2. He has also won seven national collegiate titles.

"I guess the thing I'm convinced of is that this is my calling,'' he said.

"It's what I'm supposed to do. There's not a thing I'd rather be doing than working with these guys.'' There was a time when he wanted to be a power forward with the Boston Celtics.

"It didn't take long for it to be pretty clear that I was going to be a coach.'' Youthful looking, Clark has made his presence felt during each workout with his voice booming across the pitch.

"Get that pill off the ground,'' he shouted at a group of Eagles yesterday, as they tried to scoop the ball off the grass.

Later, he bellowed: "I'm trying to get 15 guys involved here.'' But there is also a kinder, gentler side to the career coach and he is just as quick to praise his players.

At the end of yesterday's practice, for instance, he said: "I appreciate you guys keeping your end of the bargain.'' Said captain Kevin Swords: "He's a taskmaster and some of the players hate him,'' he said with tongue firmly in cheek. "Sometimes I have to keep the players from rioting down there.'' When Clark was asked how he would feel having himself as a coach he smiled, then added, "I'm sure they've got some real mixed thoughts from time to time, but I think they know that most of all I've got their well being in mind. I can't put into words the admiration I have for our rugby players.

"It's quite hard to play rugby in the US, and I'm sure it's very similar to Bermuda, I mean there's a lot of money in this game throughout the world. But our guys aren't collecting any pay cheques and to have the dedication they have right now it's really mind boggling to me. I'm a big fan of theirs.'' Wearing blue shorts with the word "defence'' emblazoned in gold across his backside, he would just as soon have it across his heart.

"I think we've attempted to have some priorities in mind as we've tried to develop our team and we want to become a good defensive team. That doesn't mean just tackling hard,'' he said. "Certainly we want to tackle hard like everybody does, but we want people to understand defence. We want to have good defensive patterns where people understand the running lines, that's a priority to us.'' Unlike previous US coaches, Clark has been handed additional responsibilities with marketing and finance under his jurisdiction. For the first time the head coach is also overseeing a host of rugby programmes, things like the Sevens and women's Eagle programmes.

"It's not my favourite part of the job,'' he said, referring to the financial or marketing aspects of his job. "Raising money and doing the behind-the-scenes structure work is something that needs to be done, but it's not the best part of the job, that's for sure.'' The most important thing for the Eagles right now is returning to the World Cup in 1995, but they first must get past Bermuda on Saturday.

"We need to win the game just like Bermuda does, but at the same time I'm trying to keep one eye on our future. We need to focus on becoming a good rugby team, that's our mission.

"It's not just to go out and have favourable results. We need to go out and just worry about being a good rugby team and playing to a pattern where every guy on the team has a sense of purpose about him on the field. I think that's our primary mission at this point.'' One thing is certain, however, Bermuda fans should not expect him to be as vocal on Saturday as he is during practice. "No, I'll try to keep my mouth shut and just watch like I'm supposed to.'' JACK CLARK -- "There is nothing I'd rather be doing than working with these guys,'' said the Eagle head coach.