Bundee Aki put in at 12 to mind Ireland's wonderkid out-half Sam Prendergast following fears of rough-housing
"Sam's a great young kid who is taking all his opportunities," says 2023 World Player of the Year nominee Aki of brilliant 22 year-old Sam Prendergast's selection to start in Dublin
It is no accident that the decision to put Sam Prendergast in to start at no10 this Saturday against Fiji coincided with Bundee Aki returning to slot in at no12.
Andy Farrell is not going to stand for, as was suggested during the week, his 'light' 22 year-old out-half being rough-housed in Dublin, never mind anywhere else.
Meatgrinder, thumping tackler, Aki will have full Ireland management permission to act as judge, jury and executioner of anybody who targets Prendergast on Saturday - once he keeps it legal of course!
"Sam's a great young kid who is taking all his opportunities," says Aki looking forward to playing with the breakthrough Leinster youngster who's starting debut has been so eagerly anticipated.
"It's like he's in his own little world, it's like he's playing backyard footie. In training some of the stuff he comes up with is unbelievable.
"He's real clam, learning loads, he's a tall little young fella anyway, that's for sure! He's got a lot of skills in his armoury.
"He's got his own flair for the game so you look forward to seeing him relish those opportunities and backing them 100 percent and he's only going to get better and grow as a player."
This first post-Sexton November window has been an interesting time in Ireland camp as far as the no10 were concerned, the battle supremacy has been day in, day out.
"They take ownership throughout the whole week, whoever it is, all the 10s, Ciarán (Frawley), Jack (Crowley) and Sam, you know what I mean?
"I've never seen those guys not working together, every day they're making sure they're over their work, making sure they grab a hold of everyone in the team and making sure they're putting ownership on themselves as well as the group.
"Those group of 10s, I swear, they do some amount of work behind the scenes."
And while Aki is able to laugh at the idea Johnny Sexton was capable of looking after himself, he knows that younger players don't arrive fully battle hardened.
"First-centres have different roles at different times in different games, obviously we're just making sure that we do the best that we can as a player.
"Outside making sure of that we're helping out the no10s and helping out our back three or whatever it is, just making sure everything's working well.
"It's not just an individual person, it's always making sure that the team is functioning well and the only way to do that is making sure that you're across your own work."
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