Aki Wearing His Heart on His Sleeve

Bundee Aki is ready to keep on going for as long as he can and there is certainly no sign of his powers waning.

The Connacht Rugby and Ireland centre will turn 36 next month, but he remains a mighty physical presence out on the pitch.

He confirmed that with his contribution to the Triple Crown-clinching victory over Scotland in the final round of the Six Nations and then again with a Vodacom URC Player of the Match display in Connacht’s statement victory away to Ulster Rugby on the weekend.

The Auckland-born Aki made 14 carries, put in 11 tackles and claimed two breakdown steals in the 26-19 bonus point triumph at Belfast’s Affidea Stadium.

It was the perfect way for him to celebrate having just signed a one-year contract extension with the IRFU.

Speaking after the game, he said: “I’m absolutely delighted to stay for another year and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ll put my heart out for this club, and I’ll put my heart out for this country as much as I can and for as long as I can.”

Reflecting on the Belfast showdown with Ulster, he said: “We knew it was going to be tough. It’s a hard place to come and play. It’s a hostile area.

“Ulster are a great team; they are well coached. We knew we had to dig deep and big credit to the boys for doing that.

“It’s an inter-pro and I think the biggest part of an inter-pro is physicality. It goes a long way. Physicality was one of the big parts of our game.

“Inter-pros are great to play in. I love inter-pros. You’ve got guys playing up against each other and there’s a lot to prove.”

That’s now four Vodacom URC wins on the trot for play-off chasing Connacht who are up to ninth in the table and level on points with the eighth-placed Vodacom Bulls as they look ahead to Saturday’s meeting with the Ospreys in Galway.

The 69-cap Aki said: “The boys who have been playing for the last couple of weeks have dug in well and put in a good platform for the boys that have been away in Ireland camp to come back and perform well.”

Head coach Stuart Lancaster was full of praise for his veteran centre.

“He was involved in a huge game with Ireland the previous weekend,” he said.

“In my mind, I am thinking ‘Is he good to go?’

“So, I spoke to him and said ‘Are you good to go?’ and he said ‘Yeah, I’m good to go’.

“He trained really well. He trained on the Monday, even after winning the Triple Crown with Ireland.

“Bundee was on great form. The energy he brings is amazing. It’s great to have him back.”

Along with Aki, fellow Irish Six Nations squad members Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast and Billy Bohan also rolled up their sleeves to start against Ulster.

“To double down and play in an inter-pro and give so much shows what the club means to them,” said Lancaster.

“They were delighted in the changing room.”

Two-try winger Finn Treacy echoed his coach in praising the returning Six Nations contingent.

“Getting the Ireland boys back in, they really drove and led the week. They gave us such belief, helping us younger lads,” he said.

“We knew how tough the challenge was going to be. Ulster are playing very good rugby and they were undefeated at home this season. It’s such a tough place to come.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be any walkover. It was going to need a full 80 minute performance.

“But there was just a confidence there in the group that we were going to do it. We have that inner belief now. We’ve got momentum these last few games.

“It was a really proud performance for Connacht. There was some feeling there at the end.”

There was also yet another touchdown for No 8 Sean Jansen who is the Vodacom URC’s leading try scorer this season with nine.

“We talked about this being our glass ceiling moment,” said the man from Dunedin.

“We feel like we are going on a run. The boys are starting to click. You can see in our defence. The boys are tight and they are loving it. What a feeling!

“We have got the Ospreys next weekend now, so hopefully we keep our run going and we get into that eight.”