Fans are raving about Bundee Aki after another sensational Pro14 performance for Connacht
Connacht opened their 2020-2021 Pro14 campaign yesterday with a nailbiting victory over Glasgow in Galway and they owe a lot of that victory to Bundee Aki.
The Ireland centre scored two tries in a sensational solo performance that further highlights his importance to the national team.
The first half was a tight affair with the visitors narrowly leading at the break with the score at 3-7. In the second half, however, Bundee ramped things up a gear.
Bundee doing Bundee things, now the #GuinnessPRO14 is well and truly back 👊@connachtrugby are back level thanks to @bundeeaki12’s power 💪
Who’ll come out on top?#GuinnessPRO14 #CONvGLA
🇬🇧 Watch Live Now on @PremierSportsTV
🇮🇪 Watch Live Now on @eirSport & @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/XetFKDQaTu— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) October 3, 2020
Connacht fought their way back to lead 20-17 as they entered the last quarter of the match. The Irish powerhouse centre stepped up again in the 65th minute to help his side to stretch their lead over Glasgow.
It’s that man again 💪@bundeeaki12 latches onto a clever grubber for @connachtrugby 👌
Could that be the winning score?#GuinnessPRO14 #CONvGLA
🇬🇧 Watch Live Now on @PremierSportsTV
🇮🇪 Watch Live Now on @eirSport & @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/oDuZKdaYx2— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) October 3, 2020
He left the field of play after this well-worked try but he wasn’t done there. We see below as Bundee Aki screams instructions to his players from the sidelines. It’s clear that he’s not only a leader on the field but off it too.
@bundeeaki12 shouting instructions to the Connacht team pic.twitter.com/AP6LtkiRMZ
— Joe Naughton (@JosephNaughton4) October 3, 2020
In other news
History repeats! Otago lose Ranfurly Shield to Hawke’s Bay after one-week reign
As was the case in 2013, Hawke’s Bay have travelled to Dunedin and snatched the Ranfurly Shield from Otago just a week into the southerners’ reign.
Introducing your new #RanfurlyShield holders, @hbmagpies.
Watch the full #OTAvBAY highlights here ➡️ https://t.co/mp7St2g9U9
🎥: @SkySportNZ pic.twitter.com/wwzkxcDE1H
— Mitre 10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) October 4, 2020
While that match ended with just two points separating the sides, Hawke’s Bay victory this year was much more convincing, with the Magpies triumphing 28-9.
The Magpies scored the only tries of the match, with Lolagi Visinia, Folau Fakatava, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Kurt Baker all touching down for the visiting side. While Visinia’s score was an absolute pearler of a team effort, Fakatava and Walker-Leawere’s were exceptional individual efforts.
Otago banked the early points through two quick Josh Ioane penalties but everything fell the Magpies’ way after that.
Visinia and Fakatava scored before halftime, then Otago fullback Vilimoni Koroi was sin-binned for recklessly taking out Hawke’s Bay’s replacement flyhalf, Caleb Makene late in the second stanza.
This is how you seal a #RanfurlyShield victory!
🎥: @skysportnz #OTAvBAY pic.twitter.com/CRYD1skOu0
— Mitre 10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) October 4, 2020
Ioane had kicked a third penalty shortly before Koroi’s yellow card but any hint of a fightback from the Shield holders was quickly snuffed out by Walker-Leawere’s 50-metre solo effort.
Adding further insult to injury, Otago flanker Slade McDowall was then sent off for a swinging arm in the tackle.
Experienced fullback Kurt Baker touched down with minutes remaining in the match to well and truly seal the result, but the writing had been on the wall for some time already.
Hawke’s Bay’s victory marks the third time that the Shield has changed hanged this year – and the third time in as many weeks. Otago won the Shield off Taranaki last weekend after the Bulls dominated traditional powerhouses Canterbury a week prior.
The Magpies, at least, have a week off before they’ll have to put the Ranfurly Shield up against Northland in two weeks’ time. Otago, meanwhile, must travel to Wellington next weekend.
