HERCULEAN EFFORT

Ireland centre Bundee reveals how Dad’s blunt criticism is helping make him a better player

IT’S not exactly a message from the gods but Hercules gives Bundee Aki a call on the Monday after every game he plays in.

Ireland’s abrasive new centre loves speaking on the phone with parents Hercules and Sautia who live on the other side of the world in the Auckland suburb, Manurewa.

“He’s a very tough critic,” grinned the Connacht star, referring to his father.

“I’m pleased to have parents like that who are always tough on me and making sure I do well, it’s good.”

It’s the same for all the big games. For Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales, Aki’s family will wake in the middle of the night and watch it on TV, then sleep some more before going to church in the morning.

“Then I get a phone call every Monday after the games from the old man and mum, trying to tweak

my Aki said. “It’s just making sure that I’m doing everything right.

The game against Italy, my handling skills weren’t great so he gave me an earful on that and he was making sure I’ll do it right next time.”

Aki’s two brothers,

Sam and Bob, as well as a number of his cousins travelled to Galway in late autumn hoping to see him play for Connacht but instead got to watch the 27-year-old make his Ireland debut in the victory over South Africa.

It was a special day for the family and perfectly captured in a group photo (above) that also included Aki’s wife Kayla and his youngest daughter Adrianna.

“Oh, my missus got it framed up there,” Aki smiled. “It’s a nice photo to be honest.

“I had my brothers and my cousins come over from overseas, they were supposed to be here a month but ended up staying for two and a half months!

“I was lucky enough to be named and lucky enough

that they were there for my first game. It was probably the most satisfying thing. I wanted the victory, I wanted to play well and they were there to witness it and support me.”

But there was no time to party with his family. “No, you have to make sure you get your head down and just keep going,” Aki stressed.

“You can’t just celebrate. You’ve got to make sure you enjoy the moment but there’s always a job ahead of you.”

Aki has quickly become an important cog in the wheel and, with Robbie Henshaw’s championship over, his influence is needed even more against Wales. The Henshawgame,” Aki partnership was a reboot of the one that propelled Connacht to the PRO12 title two years ago and their relationship has remained strong despite Henshaw’s move to Leinster.

“I was with him at the weekend, he called over and we hung out,” said Aki. “We played a bit of Playstation and I whipped him in FIFA, nothing different in that!”

But the serious stuff started again on Monday with Aki expected to be joined on Saturday by Munster’s Chris Farrell in midfield – a duo that was successfully road tested against Argentina.

“We’ll be as ready as we can be,” Aki said. “Robbie is a big loss for us but there’s a really good group of guys there.

“Wales are going to be very dangerous, they’re bringing back world class players.

“We just have to build confidence in what we’re doing and how we’ve been training. You look forward and work with what you have – and we have some great players here.”