Connacht centre Bundee Aki will play no part in the team's push for quarter-final qualification in the Challenge Cup against Exeter on Sunday. The New Zealander was forced to limp off the Sportsground in the last few minutes of last Friday night's 12-16 defeat against Edinburgh. He had an MRI scan earlier this week and will see a surgeon on Thursday in order to establish if surgery is required.
Pat Lam said he is reasonably optimistic that Aki, who has developed a thrilling midfield partnership with Robbie Henshaw, will be available when the side resumes its drive for a Pro 12 top six league finish with a visit to Scarlets on February 15th. He will be absent for Sunday's arrival of Exeter and the closing Challenge Cup pool game at La Rochelle.
“The way I put these things is that he has had ankle problems before and he is confident about it but the surgeon just needs to look at it more tomorrow to get a clearer picture,” Lam said.
“We are hopeful that he will be all right for the Scarlets game in a month’s time. I think that is the priority, to get him right for Scarlets. Following an MRI, it was decided that further intervention was needed so he is seeing an orthopaedic surgeon on Thursday to see if surgery is needed for a possible high ankle sprain. We will know more on the back of that.”
White return
Connacht’s bill of health is always a busy document: even as Aki goes into rehabilitation,
Nathan White
returned to club colours when he played the first half for the Eagles against Leinster A – and a brewing storm – on Wednesday afternoon.
While he suffered a facial injury during the clash at the Sportsground, he came through a scheduled 40-minute run quite well.
The 33-year-old tighthead prop had been in line for his international debut against South Africa but ruptured a tendon in his upper arm during international training. He has resumed playing earlier than the original four-month lay-off forecast.
"Well, that is up to Joe [Schmidt]," said Lam when asked if White might now come into the reckoning as a frontrow cover option ahead of the Six Nations.
“The main thing Nathan wanted to do was to get back and play for Connacht and if he gets through the 40 minutes, then he becomes a selection option for us for La Rochelle.
“You take your knocks and it is about how you come back. And fair play to Nathan: he just dusted himself off and got straight back into it and did really well in his rehab. He is getting forty minutes now and is coming back earlier than we expected.”
Outhalf Craig Ronaldson is also back training and Lam emphasised how pleased the club was to have secured the services of Quin Roux, who joined on loan from Leinster this season, and academy graduate Ultan Dillane for a further two years.
South African lock Roux has made a huge impression with his performances last year and after training on Wednesday said that he was delighted to make Connacht his home for the next two seasons at least.
Proud club
“Very happy,” Roux said. “It is always a part of the season that it is good to get out of the way and you know you are settled for the next two years and then you can just focus on your game. It is much different coming here once or twice a year than actually living here. This is a very proud club and the lads made it easy for me to settle in and it is easy for me to see how the success this year has been on the back of the crowd.”
European interests
With the Pro 12 now suspended for a month, Connacht and Lam have the opportunity of giving their European interests their unqualified attention.
Lam admitted that the team would love another chance to play Friday night’s Edinburgh game again but felt it was one of those nights when a number of factors, including crucial calls, went against his side.
“We had a good review on it and there is no doubt that I think there was a lot of effort there. I think we had 23 guys across the 80 minutes of that Munster game really operating close to 100 per cent. In the Edinburgh game, there was still the same willingness and effort but without the same results. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t right up there.
“But we talk about energy and trying to defend six points in the second half with no penalties off a 7-0 penalty count for 30 minutes was a monumental effort to get a bonus point.
“We have sent a report to the referee as well so we have gone through all that and can now park it. And when we look at the Pro 12 stopping we can say, right: we are in sixth place. And it is all in our control when we come back.”
