'They're leading the way they want to lead' - Bundee Aki on Caelan Doris and Dan  Sheehan

LEADING THEIR OWN WAY: Bundee Aki praises Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan leadership. Picture: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

There is no denting Bundee Aki’s positivity for this Ireland team, despite the mood music around Andy Farrell’s squad. Having opened this international window with a dramatic fall-off in defeat to New Zealand in Chicago, even the comeback victory over Japan seven days later was described from inside the camp as “underwhelming”.

From the outside it appears there is something of a post-Lions hangover for a group containing 17 of the 18 Irishmen, including Aki, who toured Australia in the summer, and one compounded by the absence of recently retired stalwarts such as Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony.

Yet the 35-year-old centre is in optimisitic mood as Farrell’s team finalise preparations for this Saturday night’s visit of Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies to Aviva Stadium, with Aki on Thursday named as the outside backs replacement. He is convinced the national side he has represented 66 times over the past eight years since becoming Irish-qualified are close to rediscovering their best form.

“We're building nicely,” Aki said. “We're learning on the go. There's a transition period at the moment but I think guys are putting up their hands, they're finding their feet, finding their flow and starting to play how they want to play the game. So I think we're in a great spot at the moment.” 

Five Test centurions have left the playing group since the 2023 World Cup, with Keith Earls and Johnny Sexton, now kicking coach, having retired directly after that quarter-final heartbreak at the hands of the All Blacks, followed at the end of last season’s Six Nations by Healy, Murray and O’Mahony. That accounts for the absence of 595 caps-worth of experience but Aki credits the new breed of leaders for helping to steer Ireland through the transition, led by captain Caelan Doris and hooker Dan Sheehan.

“They're unbelievable, aren't they? I think Caelan's an unbelievable leader, Dan Sheehan, you saw him, how he leads and the way he plays. I think they're just growing.

“They're grabbing a hold of it and they're using guys around them to lead the squad. I know you guys don't see it, but inside our huddle and in our group they're unbelievable leaders for us and the way they lead with their actions and the way they talk to us. So I think they're just growing as a player and as a leader and it's unbelievable to see.” 

Aki sees a different style of leadership emerging, though without losing some of the hard-edged sensibilities that made O’Mahony and Sexton such respected pillars of the squad.

“They're leading the way they want to lead. They're making it their own authentic self instead of trying to be someone else. So I think Dan Sheehan is Dan Sheehan, he's always going to be a bubbly guy, same as Caelan Doris can be cracking jokes here and there but you know when they're putting out serious talks then you know it's exactly the same as the old guys. I think they're leading and growing by the way they want to lead.” With just 84 minutes of rugby since playing in all three Lions Tests over the summer, Aki’s assessment of his current levels echoed his view of the Ireland squad as a whole.

Back on the bench for the Wallabies Test on Saturday, he will get a chance to build on a 60-minute seasonal debut for Connacht against the Bulls and the 24 minutes he got as a replacement at Soldier Field a fortnight ago. Aki lost out on the number 12 jersey against the All Blacks to in-form Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey, who partnered Garry Ringrose, while Robbie Henshaw took over at inside centre in the 41-10 win over Japan last Saturday, partnered at number 13 by debutant Tom Farrell, another fast starter to the new season with Munster.

“Probably not at the point where I want it to be, but that's what it is, you’ve just got to adapt and go with it. And, you know, we have such a healthy competition here in the Irish group with the likes of Robbie, Ringer, Stu and now Tom Farrell, all quality players. So it's a matter of how much can you improve your game and how much can you take your game to another level and that's what I need to do.

“I wouldn't say it's a physical or mental thing. It's just there's a healthy competition. Guys who've been playing very well for their provinces, who've put their hand up. You saw Stu play very well in the New Zealand game. Then saw Robbie and Tom playing the Japan game. The guys are putting their hands up. So once you get your chance, you've got to make sure you take those chances with open hands.” Aki is taking nothing for granted, particularly long-term but the 2027 World Cup, by which time he will be 37, remains in his sights.

“I have to be around first for the next few camps, don’t I? I've got to play well. Look, I'm just going to, whatever role I get put in the squad, whether it's starting, bench or not playing, I'm there to make sure that I give it everything.

“Helping out the guys who are playing, helping out the guys who are on the bench or making sure that we're all across our same work. So whatever role that I'm put in, I just make sure I do it the best I can… I don't think age plays a really big part of it. I think you've just got to make sure that you're ready to go whenever you get called upon.”