Injured Bundee Aki was keen to carry on regardless

Connacht coach Pat Lam revealed it took some persuasion last week before Bundee Aki agreed to undergo surgery on a troublesome ankle injury.

Lam confirmed that Aki has a particularly high pain threshold and was keen to play on, but he finally relented when they presented him with the full facts.

“He would go out there on one leg,” said Lam about the PRO12 player of the season who will now be out of action until mid-February.