Bundee Aki ban exposes bigger IRFU problem claims Jackman
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Discipline.
Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman says Bundee Aki’s ban for verbal abuse of a match official exposes a bigger problem for the IRFU that will continue to get worse if something isn’t done.
Aki was handed a four-game ban for his actions, which comes following similar disciplinary action for Mack Hansen several months back, as clear and evident disciplinary issues continue for Irish Rugby.
Ireland captain Caelan Doris has acknowledged that it’s an area he will be looking to improve on during this year’s Six Nations, but Jackman is worried.
“I think what will be really worrying for Farrell is that it wasn’t just the interpros where you had Irish referees who you could say have just had enough of this, you saw it in Europe as well with non-Irish referees,” Jackman told the RTE Rugby podcast.
“It seems within the refereeing fraternity that there’s been a reaction to what’s been constant. When you’re commentating on games, you have a clear audio of the ref mic than the TV viewer, and it’s incredible the amount of chat from Irish players across the board, not just the captain.
“I think we’re probably overdoing it captaincy-wise in terms of pressurising referees to look at things. It’s non-stop.
“In the background, every ruck, there are four or five Irish players in a provincial jersey shouting and telling the referee what to do.
“Even the one at the weekend for Connacht, which was really interesting. Eoghan Cross, the referee, warned Jack Carty and Bundee, and you could hear by his tone, see by his body language that he was on the edge of saying: ‘Enough’s enough’.
“He warned them, and a couple of plays later, he has to penalise Bundee for questioning the decision.”
Jackman added that it makes matters even worse when you consider that the referee was correct in his decision, not Aki.
“Actually, the decision that Bundee was questioning was the right decision by the referee; Bundee was wrong,” Jackman added.
“Obviously, he was frustrated not to have started in the biggest game in Connacht’s history – he nearly built that stand with his actions on the field – but he brought that frustration onto the field.
“It affected his play I think – I certainly think he was distracted – but if Farrell wants to show clips of this costing teams and Irish players overstepping the mark, he has an abundance of them over the last four weeks.”
