The official announcement of Bundee Aki’s extended contract for another year is the ideal Christmas bonus for Connacht as Leinster roll into Galway for their annual festive URC meeting.
Fresh from a win in Europe, Connacht now face an even tougher challenge against an unbeaten Leinster outfit in Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, and Aki’s availability on Friday is the ideal festive boost.
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says the 34-years-old New Zealand-born centre, who has some 60 international caps for Ireland, is a “good guy” whose heart is in the “right place” in his desire to help both Connacht and Ireland win.
“The key thing he brings to our environment is a calm head and that experience from playing in some of the biggest games and the biggest occasions.
“When he’s on the field for us, if we get into situations, whether it’s a good period of momentum in the game or a period when we may be struggling, he gives that calmness.
“Anyone can tell players to settle down with the next job, but when it comes from someone who has excelled at the very top level, and has seen it and done it, I think it comes with far greater gravitas and has a much bigger impact on the group.”
Wilkins says Aki is now using his voice more within the group, which is incredibly important in Connacht’s growth.
“It’s just about tapping into that and where I can help him, but it’s also about being open enough to utilise his experience and his opinions - that’s an important bit of the dynamic as well.”
Connacht’s internationals, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen, will also be available. Ruled out is Hugh Gavin, who continues to recover from ankle surgery, and Peter Dooley (calf ), who is back running, and may be ready for the Ulster Christmas fixture.
Fresh from the 18-31 win in Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup, Connacht will head to Dublin hoping to avenge their 12-33 loss to Leinster earlier in the season.
“We didn’t give the best account of ourselves in that game at home,” Wilkins says, “and we will have some fresh bodies coming back, either from injury, or players who didn’t have to make that long trip to Perpignan.
“It would be difficult if the internationals were only dropping straight back in this week, but I think we’ll have no excuses in terms of our preparation. We just need to get the rugby bits of our game functioning, and make sure our mindsets are there on the day.
“There is excitement about Leinster and the opportunity within that, but it’s knowing how very good we will have to make the most of it.” With the odds firmly in favour of Leinster, Wilkins says few would be surprised if the home side are the winners.
“There is less pressure [on us] because if Leinster win, the person on the street will not be surprised, particularly up at the Aviva. Regardless of who they rotate selection-wise, it will be an incredibly strong 23 coming up against us.”
However, he says, sometimes Connacht play their best rugby when they “just go for it” and do not worry about the consequences. “We just need to get the rugby bits of our game functioning, and make sure our mindsets are there on the day, and we’ll look forward to seeing what we can do.”
Connacht, having delivered a solid second win in the European Challenge Cup are in a good space, after their deserved bonus-point win in France.
Connacht were able to profit from the home side’s indiscipline within the sixth-minute penalty when centre Byron Ralston touched down and Jack Carty added the extras.
Continued French indiscipline helped pave the way for Connacht’s second try, and from a line-out Connacht mauled forward with Eoin de Buitlear claiming the second try to go 14-0 ahead.
The home side, however, delivered from a penalty when their young prop Lorenzo Boyer Gallardo eventually crossed for Perpignan’s first score before adding a penalty in the 27th minute to close the gap.
A 37th minute try when Santiago Cordero sent Chay Mullins through on the right wing to lead 8-19 by the break, but the home side capitalised on a poor start to the second half from the visitors when Aucagne struck to give the home side real hope before right wing Jefferson Joseph charged through for a try, converted by Aucagne, closing the gap to a single point.
Connacht, however, recovered with a Paul Boyle try, converted by Carty, and thereafter the two teams went head-to-head and in what was a long 15 minutes for the Connacht travelling support.
Two successive penalties in the 73rd and 75th minutes provided the home side with the opportunity, but a huge defensive set-to kept them at bay before a super brilliant Hawkshaw break provided another chance, and from a maul, McBurney deliver the try and another deserved hard-fought victory on French soil.
USAP Perpignan: A Crossdale, J Joseph, R Buliruarua, A Naqalevu, M Granell, A Aucagne, J Hall, L Boyer-Gallardo, S Lam (c ), N Roelofse, A Ortombina, A Warion, N Della Schiava, M Hicks, A Dvali. Replacements: S Fa’aso’o for Dvalie (52 ), T Allen for Aucagne (54 ), V Montgaillard for Lam, K Brookes for Boyer-Gallardo and F Duguivalu for Buliruara (all 61 ), B Chinarro for Hicks (66 ), J Barcenilla D’Onghia for Rioelofse (77 ).
Connacht Rugby: S Cordero, C Mullins, B Ralston, C Forde, A Smith, J Carty, M Devine, D Buckley, E de Buitlear, S Illo, D Murray, J Joyce, C Prendergast (c ), S Hurley-Langton, S O’Brien. Replacements: P Boyle for O’Brien (3m ), D Hawkshaw for Smith (23 ), B Murphy for Devine, J Aungier for Illo (52 ), O Dowling for Joyce (54 ), A McBurney for de Buitlear and J Duggan for Buckley (both 62 ).
