Nov 22,2024
If you're in the vicinity of Dublin 4 just after 3.10pm on Saturday afternoon and you feel the earth shake beneath your feet, don't be alarmed, it’s more than likely the first collision involving Bundee Aki and Josua Tuisova.
The two starting inside centres are arguably the most powerful midfield gainline winners in rugby, and their individual battle is worth the price of admission alone.
There’s likely to be a real edge to Aki’s game on Saturday, even more so than usual. The 34-year-old had a sloppy performance in Ireland’s opening Autumn Nations Series defeat to New Zealand earlier in the month, and as a result was left out of last week’s win against Argentina.
"I think it's tough for anyone. It's always a challenge but you put that aside and you put the team first," Aki says, ahead of tomorrow’s game against Fiji, where he has been restored to the starting side.
"I had a different role last week, which was to prepare the boys for the game last week and I enjoyed that role. It was good to see them thrive, the way they played last week.
"Yeah, it's always the next job focused and you're turning the page straightaway once you know what the job is and what your focus is for the week."
Saturday’s game will be Aki’s 59th cap, and competition for places in midfield has been steep ever since the Connacht man made his debut against the Springboks in 2017, with Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey and now Jamie Osborne fighting for a place in Andy Farrell’s centre depth chart.
"It's a healthy, honest relationship with Faz," added Aki (above).
"You take it on the chin and you've just got to be better and take the opportunity of the week to nullify your mistakes and to be a better person and to be a better rugby player.
"The two boys who played last weekend were unbelievable. You've still got the likes of big Stu [McCloskey], the likes of Jamie Osborne, lads are coming through and the lads put up a big challenge last week and it's up to myself to be able to put my best foot forward and to step up another notch. It's always good to have that competition with us.
"Our group of centres, we're such a good tight group that whoever it is that's playing or not playing, we're out there to help each other out and put our best foot forward.
"You try to relish all these opportunities that you get. It's not often that you get the chance to pull on the green jersey and it's not pressure, you try to enjoy those moments and relish those opportunities you get.
"Whenever I get a chance or whatever chance I get in the Irish jersey, I always try to take those opportunities as much as I can."
Now in his eleventh season at Connacht, the veteran centre’s future appears to be uncertain. While he is contracted to the IRFU until the summer of 2026, he is reportedly a target for French Top14 side Toulon.
And Aki was staying tight-lipped when asked if there was any truth to those rumours.
It’s no surprise to see Aki’s name in the starting side this week, given Sam Prendergast (above) will be earning a first Irish start at out-half.
It’s likely Fiji will have their bruising inside centre Tuisova running in Prendergast’s direction all day, and so Aki will need to be an enforcer, of sorts, for his rookie team-mate.
Although Aki doesn't believe he will need to do much protecting for the new number 10.
"He's a great young kid who is taking all his opportunities, he's learning loads, he's got his own flair for the game and he's only going to get better and grow as a player.
"He's a tall little young fella anyway, that's for sure! He's got a lot of skills in his armoury.
"He's real calm. It's like he's in his own little world, it's like he's playing backyard footy. In training some of the stuff he comes up with is unbelievable.
"You look forward to seeing those young fellows relish those opportunities and backing them 100%."
