Andy Farrell says Bundee Aki has apologised for his conduct after picking up a four-game ban for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match officials, and insists Ireland will be striving to make their discipline "a point of difference" in this year's Six Nations championship.
The Connacht centre will miss Ireland’s opening three games of the Six Nations due to his suspension, which relates to multiple incidents with referee Eoghan Cross and his team following the province’s defeat to Leinster 10 days ago.
The 35-year-old was dropped from the Ireland squad even before news of his citing broke last week, but Farrell says he will be prepared to recall the powerful centre later in the championship when he is available again.
"I spoke to Bundee, and he's certainly sorry for what happened," Farrell said on Tuesday, after naming his squad for tomorrow's meeting with France in Paris.
"He's apologised to the right people, he’ll be working hard at home. If needed, he’ll certainly be available for us down the track.
"It was a big blow for any team, not just by his talent as a player, but his presence, his experience and all of that.
"I was privy to what was going on behind the scenes, but I wasn't being told what was happening, and I didn't know what was happening as far as the URC, or the hearing, so I was told along the way what needed to happen."
Ireland’s discipline, even prior to Aki’s (above) ban, has been a talking point across the last year, averaging one card per game since the Rugby World Cup – the highest ratio across the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides.
And Farrell was asked if the centre's suspension will be a "line in the sand" for this Irish side.
"There's always learnings from that and we've talked about it as a group," he added.
"We've talked about discipline a lot in the coming weeks in regards to how the game's changing. So, we need to get it back to being a point of difference for us, because it's not long ago that’s what it was."
Given the raft of penalties and two yellow cards Ireland gave up at the scrum in their last outing against South Africa, Farrell had some big decisions to make in his front row.
Thomas Clarkson starts at tighthead with Tadhg Furlong yet to be cleared to return from his calf injury, although the Ireland head coach expects the 33-year-old to be ready to face Italy next week.
At loosehead, injuries to Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle left Farrell light on experience, with Munster pair Jeremy Loughman (below) and Michael Milne sharing responsibilities at that side of the scrum this week.
Loughman, who won the last of his five caps just under two years ago against Wales, got the nod to start the game, with Farrell leaning into his experience in the first XV, with the more explosive ball-carrier Milne featuring on the bench.
"Jez has all the attributes to be a fantastic loosehead at this level and he's been fighting hard to get back into this squad, and here's his chance," Farrell said of Loughman, who has won all of his previous five games for Ireland.
"He is that type of player, isn't he? Set-piece first, and he's been pretty impressive in training this week, so we're looking forward to seeing those two lads go for it.
"It is a good day for him, and it is a big opportunity, and he's certainly trained like that.
"In the last couple of days, he's making sure that we get out of our own way and make sure that we fit into just what the team needs.
"He knows that, he knows that and you rightly say about him being diligent enough within his preparation to hang on in there and take his chance, and he's certainly done that.
"He needs to be himself and add to the team, and not hope that he just fits in. And that's for everyone in the squad."
'He's simplified things and got down to what he’s good at, beating people’ – Andy Farrell on the return to the starting Ireland team for Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale
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Having been the team to beat in the Six Nations in the last three years, Ireland are a clear third-favourite this year behind the defending champions France, and an in-form England, both of whom they play away from home in the opening three rounds.
And while he played down the idea that there has been a change in their status in the championship, he’s called on his squad – and in particular his inexperienced contingent – to be "fearless" when they step out onto the pitch in Paris.
"There'll be ups and downs, I'm sure of that, against a world-class side at home, but it's an exciting game for us going forward, because we'll certainly learn a lot about ourselves, testing ourselves in big occasions like this, so that'll stand to us anyway.
"We want to be better as a whole, as a team. We want to be obviously more clinical with how we go about our business, taking points when we get the opportunity in the right parts of the field and, as a whole, being better. As I said, our strength has to be the collective and the lads are certainly aware of that.
"We're at where we're at, and for me that's exciting. That's what you need to grab hold of and run with and see what we can do, not just in the near future, but how this type of experience will stand to us.
"Hopefully this experience will stand to us in the here and now as well. That's the aim."
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