Aki has his card marked under new tackle laws

BEING honest about it, when I see some of the cards that are being dished out at this World Cup, I’m happy to have my playing days behind me.

I never would have had the same propensity to make a crunching hit like Bundee Aki (above) does but at the same time, the strength in my tackle was in the back end and I did go certainly higher than a chop more often that not. Under the current framework, I’m sure I’d have had quite a few more cards than I ultimately did over the years.

The fact of the matter is, though, these are the laws of the game and that’s how it should be as collisions become fiercer and awareness over the dangers of concussion grows.

It’s unfortunate for Aki as we’re talking about split second reactions and decisions. The fact of the matter is simply that it’s a red card under the laws we’re playing by.

By the same token, I can understand the argument that a tackle like that with no malice doesn’t warrant a three-week ban when we’re talking about missing games carrying the magnitude of a World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks.

Again, though, to look at the picture purely in black and white, once you start making concessions it weakens the zero tolerance stance that World Rugby have outlined. I’m bitterly disappointed for Aki but sadly that’s the way it is.

On the whole, at least centre is one of Ireland’s deeper positions. I’d have wanted to see Robbie Henshaw in there for sure and Garry Ringrose has been one of Ireland’s best players.