Full-time reaction of New Zealand players to Bundee Aki hits so much harder

Patrick McCarry

This was quite the sight.

WhatsApp groups were going off like mad across Ireland, and around the globe, on Saturday and there was one suggestion about Bundee Aki that we could have easily got on board with – ‘My mum has just lit her eighth candle and says, if we win this, it should be St Bundee’s Day’.

That summed up the Irish mood at half-time. Ireland had gone 13-0 behind after an early New Zealand blitz, yet they rallied superbly to trail by just a point at the break. Their World Cup dream was still alive and Aki, who crashed over for a great try, was the man driving his side forward.

Around an hour, which felt like a life-time, later the All Blacks had defeated Ireland 28-24 and another dream was dashed. Back in New Zealand, they could mark this as St Ardie’s Day, but only if their side go on and win it from here. World Cup semi-finals, or finals, don’t cut it in rugby country.

Bundee Aki immediately dropped to the deck as the final whistle sounded, and Kiwi players celebrated all around him. Soon after, though, the scenes between Aki and the All Blacks stars hit incredibly hard, particularly as the Ireland centre had delivered when it really counted.

Bundee Aki of Ireland makes a break with the ball to scores his team’s first try against New Zealand. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Bundee Aki and the All Blacks reaction

Against the three-time world champions, in the World Cup quarter final, Bundee Aki made 75 metres off 20 carries, which included a line break, seven defenders beaten and a huge first half try. He was very often a bringer of momentum and attacking spark for his side.

Andy Farrell leaned heavily on his frontliners at this World Cup. While some may now question Farrell starting 12 players in the first five games, Aki showed it was the perfect strategy, as far as his games was concerned.

Some Ireland players will have moments or misses that will sit with them a good while. Perhaps Aki, deep down, will ask if he could have done anything different, or better. rom where I was observing, though, the 33-year-old was a colossus. The All Blacks recognised that, too.

When the final whistle rang out, and Aki sank to the pitch, Jordie Barrett went straight for his opposite number and lifted him up, before the pair embraced. And then the queue of Kiwis formed – Smith, Papali’i, Ioane, Jordan and Mo’unga. All lining up [from 20 seconds, below] to commiserate with a player that had really put it up to them. Anton Lienert-Brown gave him a hug and a peck on the temple.

𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

Full-time scenes and studio reaction from Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney and Matt Williams.

"Some of them will have to live this for four years, some of them will have to live with it for the rest of their lives."#IREvNZL | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/O8Uw6Oknri

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 14, 2023

Jordie Barrett would find Bundee Aki again, as both sets of players milled around, before All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who knows Aki stretching back from his Counties Manukau and Waikato Chiefs days, gave him a hug and a few words of consolation.

Ian Foster, Head Coach of New Zealand, consoles Bundee Aki of Ireland at full-time. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Had it shaken out another way, Bundee Aki could have easily have been lining out for New Zealand against Ireland in this World Cup.

Aki’s journey took him 12,000 miles away, to Galway and Ireland, and he has found a new home and a set of rugby fans that embrace him as an adopted son. He will be 37-years-old at the next World Cup.

You could write him out of RWC 2027 and another tilt at it, but we’ve all learned better at this stage.