Bundee Aki has an interesting take on playing against teams reduced numerically by red cards, as has been the case in Ireland’s last couple of wins over Italy and England.
The popular perception might be that it should be a routine win for the side who holds the advantage in personnel thereafter, but the Connacht, Ireland and Lions centre disagrees.
“I think playing against 14 and 13 is a lot harder than playing against 15. That’s my own opinion. Just because you see so much space and you want to get to the space quickly.
“But then obviously, you’re overplaying your hand sometimes, but then you also have to look at it from the other side.
“You’ve got a team who have got their backs against the wall, who are working hard for each other – busting balls for each other. I certainly think if you are playing against 14, 13 or 12 men, it’s a different kind of ball game. It’s actually a harder game because you’ve got a team with a big spirit.”
While 13 or 12 might be stretching it, Aki’s point can be supported by examples other than Ireland winning the first Test in Cape Town despite CJ Stander being sent-off in the 22nd minute, or taking Wales to the wire after Peter O’Mahony’s 14th-minute red card in Cardiff last season when already trailing 3-0.
On three occasions in last season's Six Nations a team reduced to 14 by a red card went on to win, France against Wales, Ireland against England and Scotland against France. Those red cards were all, admittedly, after the hour mark but last July Australia also recovered from a fifth-minute sending off to beat France in the decisive third Test by 33-30.
Last week’s victory has earned Ireland the chance of winning the Triple Crown. Aki has won trophies with Counties Manakau, the Chiefs, Connacht and Ireland, although he says Saturday’s game is “more about us putting out our best performance”.
That said, he admitted: “It would be good. I think winning a trophy in any sort of competition is very good, but we haven’t really spoken about it that much, we just want to put in a good performance as a team but winning a trophy is obviously a big thing.”
Aki’s distribution skills have become more evident in this rebooted Irish side, yet once upon a time there was a theory that Aki wasn’t a great passer, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, such as try-scoring assists off both hands.
A prime example was that right to left pass across his body for CJ Stander’s try against England after Tadhg Furlong’s pirouette and tip-on had put Aki through a gap in the 2018 Grand Slam coronation at Twickenham.
For the last nine seasons Connacht fans have known Aki’s skill set includes an array of passes, as well as that amalgam of strength, footwork and offloading.
A recent example was a deft try-scoring pass to Cian Prendergast in Connacht’s Champions Cup game against Leicester this season that contained such sleight of hand that initially the commentators thought it must have been a fumble and didn’t spot Aki’s subtle lay-off until replayed in slow motion.
As Andy Friend once said of Aki when highlighting all of his obvious attributes: “He’s got a nice little short pass, he’s got a nice little offload if he gets through, and he can throw the thing wide.”
Aki himself merely said: “I think I’ve alluded to it before, I’m just trying to do the right thing for the team and I’ve always had a passing game. People have their criticisms and criticise how I play, but it’s just the way I play and try and do what’s right for the team, and what’s best for the team at the time.
“I don’t see or read anything. It’s what you guys say to me. That’s all it is. I’ve got nothing against it. You guys asked a question about my passing game and I said I’ve always got it.
“I’m playing to what’s best for the team and doing what’s best for the team. If I need to run, I need to run. If I need to pass, I need to pass. If I need to kick, I will kick. I just do what’s best for the team and what’s asked of me in the team.”
