Connacht injury crisis deepens as Aki is latest to be sidelined
CONNACHT have been dealt a major blow with the news that in-form centre Bundee Aki is set to be out of action until mid-February after suffering an ankle injury.
The popular Kiwi sustained the injury in Connacht’s momentous European Champions Cup win over Wasps at the Sportsground last Saturday night. Aki was due to undergo surgery this week.
His absence contributes to Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam making four personnel changes to his side ahead of tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster at Kingspan Stadium (7:35pm).
Last week’s try scorer Danie Poolman will start at inside centre for the first time alongside Rory Parata. With Conor Carey added to the long list of injured props, the versatile Tom McCartney has now been named on the bench as front-row cover.
Dave Heffernan with start the game in the number 2 shirt while Shane Delahunt is named on the bench as replacement hooker. James Cannon comes in to the side to partner Quinn Roux in the second row while Sean O’Brien is promoted from the bench to join the back row with Nepia Fox-Matamua and captain John Muldoon.
There remains a 6-2 split on the bench with just nine backs available to Lam and his coaching team. Academy back Ciaran Gaffney is this week named in his first match day squad. The 21-year-old from Galway made 10 appearances, including nine starts, for the Ireland under-20’s between the 2014 World Championship and the 2015 Six Nations.
Commenting on the team selection and the Ulster game, Lam said: “This week has probably been the most challenging I’ve had at Connacht with all the injuries, sickness and the group only coming together yesterday.
“Losing both Bundee (Aki) and Conor (Carey) to long term injuries is a big blow especially with our injury crisis at prop and midfield. With 21 injuries in our squad, it’s an opportunity for the next player still standing to come in and nail his role in our structures and systems.
“With the named squad not even training once together this week, there has been a huge emphasis once again on the classroom learning and mental preparation. I was really proud of the boys with the work they put in last week and the character they showed in adversity to grind out a big win. We’ll be looking for the same again tonight, albeit in a much tougher environment at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium and against a quality side like Uster.
“We know we don’t have a good record up in Belfast but that just means this is a huge opportunity for us to create something special as a group. We’re really looking forward to the challenge,” added Lam.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.