Bundee Aki warns Ireland of threat from 'unbelievable' Scotland backline

STAR PERFORMER: Bundee Aki during an Ireland training session at Complexe de la Chambrerie in Tours. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Bundee Aki has warned of a difficult night ahead for Ireland against Scotland on Saturday if the Grand Slam winners are not on top of their game.

The Irish head to Paris on Thursday to conclude preparations for their Stade de France clash, when the two quarter-final qualifiers from a possible three nations in Pool B will be decided.

World number one Ireland will take an unbeaten pool record of three wins from three into the finale against Six Nations rivals to whom they have not lost in their last eight meetings. Yet the Scots have rebounded well from their opening weekend loss to defending champions South Africa and could send Andy Farrell’s men home to advance alongside the Springboks if they upset the formline.

Aki, one of the tournament’s standout stars thus far, has something of an inside track on the Scottish backline having played with a number of them on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, when Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend was in charge of an attack that saw the Ireland centre link up with half-backs Ali Price and Finn Russell, centre Chris Harris, and wing Duhan van der Merwe.

The 33-year-old, who won his 50th Ireland cap in the victory over South Africa 11 days ago, knows just how dangerous they could be if they are allowed onto the front foot this Saturday night.

Asked on Wednesday specifically about van der Merwe, Aki replied: “He’s a good lad. I got along with Duhie very well . On the pitch he’s freakish as an athlete, he can make something out of nothing. He’s quick, strong, and the threat he poses for Scotland is unbelievable.

“And not just him. You’ve got the likes of guys like Darcy (Graham), Finn, and the rest of their backline. Chris Harris, they’re unbelievable athletes. We've got our hands full this weekend and they're going to be a massive threat for us.

“I think their midfield has some world class players. You've got Sione Tuipulotu who is running amok around there, the likes of Chris Harris and Huw Jones, jeez I could talk all about their running lines, their gas and speed, the defensive side of things.

“Look, we know the threats they pose and they're playing unbelievably well, so we have to make sure we as a group and as a unit and as a backline know what's coming ahead of us and making sure that we're on top of our game. They are class players.” 

Aki was modest about his own sparkling form at this, his second World Cup. He scored four tries in his opening two games, wins against Romania and Tonga, and has been at the peak of his powers on both sides of the ball.

"It's from the whole team really… with the forwards getting front foot ball and then me on top of it. So I think it's a collective.

“It's not just me playing well, it's a whole load of us that's playing really well. I'm just probably getting on the end of the stick of it.

“I'm enjoying rugby. As a group and as a team we're enjoying each other's company and it's really fun at the moment but we all know what lies ahead and the competition that's coming."