New camp, same tired, old issue.
As we wrote about when he was called into the Ireland squad, late last month, Bundee Aki is the latest Irish qualified player to cop grief for having the audacity to follow World Rugby’s residency rules, play damned hard and well, and get selected by Joe Schmidt.
Aki is following a path tread by the likes of Ireland internationals Richardt Strauss, CJ Stander, Rob Herring and Jared Payne. Munster’s Tyler Bleyendaal is expected to be capped early next year.
Just when the Aki for Ireland storm was dying down, former Irish international lock Neil Francis appeared on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live, on Monday night, to call it ‘fundamentally wrong’ that the Auckland native could soon be wearing a green jersey.
Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray was asked for his take on the whole Aki furore. His response was emphatic and, one hopes, puts this matter to bed for the foreseeable future. Murray said:
“Yeah, I think [it is unfair]. It’s tough on a player like that.
“He came over here and has played rugby and qualified for Ireland in the right way. I know people have different opinions on that [qualification process] but if you’re just looking at calling a player and singling a player out like that, and giving someone abuse or a hard time about it, I think it’s really unfair.
“Bundee hasn’t done anything wrong. He has come into the squad. He’s a bubbly guy, he has lots of character and he’s working really hard; and he’s an awesome player. For us, we’re lucky to have him in our squad. It’s definitely unfair for someone to receive that heat off the media when he hasn’t done anything wrong.
“He just loves playing rugby and he’s looking to get the opportunities and hopefully he’ll get one, and show people how good he is. And quieten people.”
Murray says he has not spoken to Aki about the criticism he has received in parts of the media, and from some disgruntled fans, but notes that his spirits are high.
“He’s just buzzing around the place and enjoying training, and that side of it.
“For me, I’m sure he’s seen it as we see most things, whether it be on your phone or someone telling you. You’re going to see it.
“From what I see, he’s handling it really well and just enjoying rugby.”
Murray believes Aki would be entirely justified in feeling he has a point to prove if selected to face South Africa at the weekend.
“I’d say so, and that’s probably a little bit unfair on him again,” he reasoned.
“If he does get to play at the weekend, it’s a massive occasion and a massive opportunity for him, and then to have that sort of heat on him again is probably frustrating for him. He’s a strong player, a competitive person and I’m sure he’ll just take it on his shoulders and move forward with it. I don’t see it being a problem.
“I don’t think it’s fair to be singling out someone like that.”
Importantly, Murray does not buy into the suggestion that there could be an undertone of racism with regard to the flak Aki has received.
“No,” he said. “I think it’s just an issue with some people having an opinion like that. It happened when CJ qualified a while back as well. People seemed to have an issue with that but I don’t think that would be part of it.”
