BUNDEE AKI says he is okey-dokey with doing the hokey-cokey for Ireland.
Aki was in for the wing against the All Blacks, out for the win over Argentina and is back in to face Fiji on Saturday.
And, although the Connacht centre was disappointed not to be involved last weekend, he is at ease with the decision.
Aki said: “It’s tough for anyone. It’s always a challenge but you put that aside and you put the team first.
“I had a different role last week, which was to prepare the boys for the game and I enjoyed that role. It was good to see them thrive, the way they played last week.”
Andy Farrell had opted to start Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose last weekend with Jamie Osborne coming off the bench.
This time around, Aki teams up with Henshaw in midfield, with Osborne starting at full-back with Stuart McCloskey on the bench.
And Aki said: “It’s a healthy, honest relationship with Faz.
“You take it on the chin and you’ve just got to be better and take the opportunity of the week to nullify your mistakes and to be a better person and to be a better rugby player.
“The two boys who played last weekend were unbelievable. You’ve still got the likes of big Stu, the likes of Jamie, lads are coming through and the lads put up a big challenge last week.
“And it’s up to myself to be able to put my best foot forward and to step up another notch. It’s always good to have that competition with us.”
The 34-year-old was honest enough to admit that he should have done better against his home country.
He said: “We have high standards as a group and I know for a fact, speaking from my own experience from the New Zealand game, it just wasn’t good enough.
“You want to play at a high level and that’s what the coaches expect of us, we know what we’re capable of and what we’re able to deliver.”
Aki repeated that it was an honour for him to receive Irish citizenship in September but that has not stopped speculation that he may leave once his current contract expires in the summer of 2026.
Toulon are said to be keen and Aki said: “The situation right now is to play for Connacht, to play with Ireland and yeah, that’s all I’ve got to say!”
