New signing Aki named in Connacht team for big clash with table toppers

THE cavalry has arrived for Connacht who are seeking to avoid another drubbing on the road when they face Ospreys at Liberty Stadium this evening (Friday, 7.35pm). Pacy and abrasive New Zealander Bundee Aki has been named in Pat Lam’s side to take on the Welsh table-toppers, who are unbeaten this season in the Guinness Pro 12 league.

Aki, the former Chiefs rising star, trained in Galway earlier this week and starts at outside centre alongside Craig Ronaldson, in a game Lam has described as Connacht’s “biggest challenge of the season so far.”

Having just arrived in Ireland 10 days ago, Aki wasn’t due to start until the next game against Zebre, but was keen to get going, according to Lam.

“He’s been very open to learning quickly in training and has made a big effort in getting to know his team mates.  There’ll undoubtedly be a good bit of spotlight on him against Ospreys, but as always it is only a team effort that can lead to a positive outcome for us,” said Lam.

The 24-year-old’s Connacht debut is a timely boost as front-line players, Robbie Henshaw and Nathan White are tied-up with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad.

The other three players on international duty, Kieran Marmion, Darragh Leader and Rodney Ah You, have been temporarily released from the Ireland squad for this game.

Marmion and Ah You are named in the starting XV, and are among nine changes to the side that lost by 20 points in England at the weekend.

As well as Aki, captain John Muldoon returns to action this weekend, as does Eoin McKeon, and Quinn Roux, who were all rested for the away trip to Exeter Chiefs six days ago. Jack Carty is recalled at out-half, and Matt Healy comes in on the wing ahead of Fionn Carr, who is not named in the squad.

Though Leader was released by Schmidt, Lam has placed his faith in 22-year-old Shane Layden to deliver at full-back, in only his second start of the season.

Mayo-born prop Jamie Dever is named among the substitutes and could make his senior debut for the province and JP Cooney is also on the bench and is in line for his first appearance this season.

The 33-13 scalping suffered at the hands of the English outfit at Sandy Park on Saturday should focus the minds as Connacht look to back-up their fine start to the league – they lie fifth in the table, sandwiched between Munster and Leinster, on 18 points, after four wins from six games.

The league has to be a priority this season, given that qualification for the top competition, Champions Cup (formerly Heineken Cup), is not available even to the winners of the European Champions Cup.

Connacht has never won at Liberty Stadium and has beaten Ospreys just once in five years, a memorable 22-10 victory at home in February 2013.

The last time Connacht played Ospreys in Wales was last May, when they shipped six tries in a humbling 45-20 defeat. And having conceded five tries against Exeter, Lam insists his charges must improve defensively.

“We’re going down to play the top team in the league on their home ground. It is our biggest challenge of the season so far. Ospreys are a well-coached, well-drilled side with strike power all over the field. We know we will have to raise our standards considerably from last week, particularly in defence. But we’re all focused on the process of picking up as many league points as we can,” said Lam.

Connacht: S. Layden, N. Adeolokun, B. Aki, C. Ronaldson, M. Healy, J. Carty, K. Marmion; D. Buckley, J. Harris-Wright, R. Ah You, M. Kearney, Q. Roux, J. Muldoon, E. McKeon, G. Naoupu.