DREAD BUNDEE..SERIAL THRILLER

Connacht Ospreys

BUNDEE AKI will not be parachuted into the Connacht side for Sunday’s Pro14 clash with Ospreys unless he’s ready.

Ireland boss Andy Farrell will be keen to see Aki get some game time in before he names his Six Nations squad next week. Aki’s knee injury ruled him out of the inter-pro defeats to Ulster and Munster over the Christmas period and, with Sammy Arnold now out until early April after chest surgery, the New Zealandborn centre would be a great replacement to have at the Sportsground this weekend.

“It wouldn’t be a request from Andy and we wouldn’t drop him in at the last minute either,” said the Aussie head coach.

In fact Friend and Farrell spoke on the phone about Aki yesterday morning.

“We’ve a healthy relationship there, an open line of communication. We’ve had a chat and Bundee’s aware of that. We need to do the right thing for Bundee.”

Aki (left) had to come through a run-out yesterday afternoon before he would be able to train fully over the next couple of days, and only then would he be considered for selection.

“If he did that he becomes a viable option for us,” explained Friend. “We won’t just drop him in at the last minute. He’s going through a progression of his running load at the moment. What we do know is we’re not going to put him at undue risk.

“If he’s good to play then we’ll look to play him. If he’s not, we’re not going to risk him.”

Arnold was feeling no pain from the chest injury he suffered but was forced to go under the knife.