No end in sight for Aki as he continues to lead the line

Bundee Aki is loving the game and will continue to play while until he can't give any more or that it becomes like a job to him. 

DYNAMIC DUO: Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw's partnership at midfield started at Connacht and has continued at International level. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It’s one thing to shine in a side that is blinding everyone with their brilliance. Bringing that level of excellence when the walls are closing in and the pressure is at bursting point is a whole other measure of form, ability and character.

Bundee Aki has excelled in both scenarios in this Six Nations.

The Ireland centre was a leading actor away to France in Marseille and at home to Wales. Rested for the visit of Italy to Dublin, the Connacht man was one of the few in the visiting ranks to match his earlier endeavours despite the defeat to England.

He wasn’t perfect in Twickenham, but the legs continued to pump like pistons as hard yards were chiselled out of that white wall, and he spelled danger for the hosts at every ruck.

There was one tackle on Marcus Smith with the game clock emptying out that would have gone down in the annals of Irish sporting history had Andy Farrell’s men held on. And this is no recent surge in productivity.

Aki’s form last year brought him a nomination for world player of the year. The Rugby Writers of Ireland made him their recipient for their best of 2023. His form at the World Cup, in particular, was mind-blowing.

“Look, I know individual accolades, individual recognition is good but it’s a team sport,” he says. “I know it’s a cliché saying that, but it is a team sport. It’s how guys make you feel, it’s how guys make you look.

“Like I said, it’s just those guys making me look good, know what I mean? Just doing what I’m doing as a player and the guys around me are making me look good. I’m just doing what I’m told to do.” 

If there is consistency in his performances then these modest utterances are no different. It's always been thus.

It’s only 14 months since he was omitted from one of Connacht’s Champions Cup squads amid rumours of interest from Munster. What’s changed? Nothing, he says. No tweak here, or revelation there. Just a man going about his job.

“Obviously the more you play and the more you see the game… Because you have been in that situation before, you obviously can understand it more when things are happening you can see what's unfolding or picture it.

“But then that comes back to the work that you as a group, and as a team, put in throughout the week with the videos and connection as a group and making sure that when different scenarios arise we know what we're doing together as a group.” 

Ireland’s strength in the midfield was highlighted again this week when Antoine Frisch, such a talented and effective operator with Munster, was called briefly into the French squad having failed to earn entry into Ireland’s inner circle.

Stuart McCloskey has been superb whenever called upon, but the Ulsterman misses out on the matchday squad again today while the fit-again Garry Ringrose has only now found his way back into the replacements as Aki and Robbie Henshaw continue to hold the centre.

Not normally one to gush, Aki couldn’t help himself with his old Connacht teammate.

“He's been unbelievable, hasn't he? He's been class. Robbie has always been class, it's just my poor boy has always been unlucky with a few injuries here and there.

“But when that guy gets a roll on and starts playing week-in, week-out, or even coming back from an injury, I genuinely believe he is the best 12 in the world when he's playing week-on-week.

“Even at the moment I think he's one of the best centres in the world. I genuinely believe that. The same with Garry. I always tell those two, 'You two are by far the best centres in the world', and they know that I'll always say that to them.” 

His appreciation for McCloskey is just as strong but then he’s hardly the first Irish player to look around him and marvel at the talents buttressing his own efforts. It’s an appreciation that extends to the support received from outside the camp.

“I can't go individually and try and say 'thank you' to everyone because there is a shitload of them out there, but through my actions and through the way I play with the help of the lads, it's my way of showing, and I do mean this, that I do really care about this country, I do really care about the people here and the jersey, that means a lot to me.” 

He has 55 Test caps now and, with a 34th birthday coming around the corner at the start of next month, it is legitimate to wonder how much longer we can sit back and appreciate the efforts of this special talent.

He arrived in Galway a decade ago from the Chiefs and is signed up to stay out west until the end of the 2024/25 season and the good news is that he has no designs on calling a halt on his charge any time soon.

“The only time I think I'll be hanging up the boots is when I feel like I can't give any more or I feel like my rugby is a job, where I'm just waking up, doing things that I don't want to do. That's when I'll know that's my time, but at the moment I'm loving it, I'm loving every single bit of it.”