Aki is excited to end his lengthy watching brief
Connacht centre raring to go on overdue international return
IRELAND v ENGLAND
Aviva Stadium, Tomorrow, 4.45pm
HAVING been reduced to the role of an enthusiastic water-carrier for the duration of this Six Nations, Bundee Aki is relishing the opportunity to get back into the green jersey against England in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.
The Connacht centre, however, has no complaints regarding the gap between his 30th and 31st caps given the form of Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw in Ireland’s midfield.
“It’s been good,” he says of the brief exile, ended by the ankle injury Ringrose sustained against Scotland last time out. “You know, you can’t argue the fact that the two boys have been playing phenomenal.
“Every week that we’ve had a chat with Andy (Farrell), he’s been nailing it on the head, he can’t make any changes when the two lads are playing well.
“You’ve got to keep that centre partnership going and the time will come, so you’ve just got to be patient about it.
“I fully enjoyed watching those two gel together, fully enjoyed watching both of them excel.
“You love to see the boys play very well, you love to see them flourish, it’s good to watch and obviously gives you more energy to get up there and enjoy the enjoyment they’re having when they’re playing.
“Obviously, we can enjoy it as a group together but there’s no better feeling when you’re out there together as a group and playing together as a group, and that’s the thing I miss, being out there on the pitch and sharing the moments with the brothers.”
The forced change does not mean an unfamiliar pairing of course, with Henshaw and Aki having played together plenty for both Ireland and, in Henshaw’s younger days, at Connacht.
“We’ve been playing with each other for a while,” nodded Aki. “We know each other inside out, we’re obviously really good mates off the pitch as well, so we stay connected.
“He’s a close friend, I know his family really well, as well as he knows mine, so we’re fairly close to each other.”
While Farrell believes that bond can be a real benefit to his side tomorrow, Henshaw has been one of his key performers regardless of his centre partner through the head coach’s tenure.
Indeed, Farrell is sure that Warren Gatland, who was in Ireland camp this week, will have taken note ahead of the planned British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa this summer.
“(Aki and Henshaw) know each other’s game inside and out,” said Farrell. “They’re best friends because of those days and there’s a trust amongst those two. I suppose when you’re taking the field and you’re looking to the side you can feel the bond, obviously, that your mate is with you and you understand what you’re going to give. These two are very close together, at the same time, they’re wonderful players.
“Bundee obviously has been out for some time. He’s had three or four games under his belt now and it’s not happened for him for quite some time. He’s missed so many international games so we’ll watch this space and then for Robbie, he’s been in unbelievable form.
“I know that Warren Gatland will be there at the weekend and he’s been in camp this week which has been great, a great tonic for the boys, and it’s people like Robbie and the performances that he’s been having that certainly will be top of Warren’s list.”