"Better as a partnership" - Bundee Aki seeks to strengthen Lions centre ties with Sione Tuipulotu

The veteran centre has formed a promising powerhouse partnership with Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu, but after a disjointed display at the Aviva, Aki knows there’s work to be done. The duo both shared a couple of unforced errors, with teething issues apparent for the Ireland-Scotland midfield axis. Aki was quick to praise the individual performance of the Glasgow Warriors man, yet appreciated how the cohesion needs to improve ahead out in Australia.

“We all know how Sione is as a player, he's bloody class,” said Aki. “The frustrating thing for me was I wasn't able to connect well with him. He's an unbelievable player and there's no excuse, we've got to get better as a partnership going forward.

“And whoever it is, Garry [Ringrose], Huw [Jones], Elliot [Daly] — as a unit we've got to make sure we gel together and try get that cohesiveness fairly quick because we need to be better.”

Aki and Tuipulotu have been close off the field as well, something the Irish centre says helps foster connection, even if it comes with sleepless nights. The two were roomates out in the initial Portugal training camp and then again in Dublin, which has helped build the off-field camaraderie that is so important to on-field success.

“Yeah, it's been good. It's actually been funny, he's been my roomy lately. He snores a fair bit at the moment, so he keeps me up at night. But yeah, he's a great man.

“He speaks out loud, which is good because that's what we need, him being himself and I just feed off him and he feeds off me. So it's brilliant. We've just got to be better at it and keep learning together — the more we grow as a partnership and then as a group, it's going to be better and beneficial for the group.”

Aki admitted there was clear disappointment among the squad, come the final whistle from Friday night's defeat to Argentina. However, the centre was certainly impressed by the performance from Los Pumas, who many had written out of the opening match of the Lions' campaign. Aki recognised that Argentina are fifth in the world for a reason, with England set for a challenging couple of Tests on tour next month.

“Look, we were obviously disappointed, it wasn't the result we were after. But full credit to Argentina, they're a great side, we won't take that away from them. They played unbelievably well and we have to learn quickly from here and bounce back quickly.”

Having toured with the Lions in South Africa in 2021, Aki knows the significance of a fast response. The count-down to kick off continues for the second match of the tour, as the Lions take on Western Force out in Perth as their opening Australian opponent.

“We've just got to learn quickly as a group. There's no better players in Europe than this group here that can learn quickly from things that were played out tonight on the pitch.

“I think you can feel the frustration and deflation of the boys in the changing room. But look, we'll just take it on the chin, whatever the coaches are throwing at us. We'll move on, learn and bounce back against another great outfit in the Western Force.”

Aki then pulled back the curtain to reveal the vibe from the Aviva Stadium changing room. A place where the Ireland centre has enjoyed plenty of success in green, Aki expressed how his now Lions head coach Andy Farrell didn’t hold back in his assessment post-match. By all accounts, that tone carried through into the dressing room.

“You know Faz, I'm sure you guys [the media] see Faz and he's exactly the same in front of you guys as he is with us. He gives it to us straight, there's no mucking around or no hiding here, he just tells you how it is.

“We're adults, we're old enough to be able to take it on the chin and move on quickly. There's no point in trying to sulk about it, you've got to be able to take it on the chin and move on quickly as a group.”

Several former Lions have suggested losing the first game can help galvanise a Lions squad that has been scratched together with relatively short notice. This is a sentiment Aki sees some truth in.

“I think Faz set out the aim for us to win every single game. To be able to not come out with the result that we wanted in the first game, look, it's just got to be one of those things where we learn quickly.

“The quicker we learn as a group and can bounce back as a group and try to get better every single day, that's only going to make us stronger and a tighter group.”

Aki was one of the Lions’ standout performers on the night, and marked his evening with a try in front of a raucous home crowd. Whilst it was frustrating for Aki come the final whistle and throughout the post-match review, the midfielder had a shining moment in red to savour in front of a packed Aviva crowd.

“Ah look, the hard work was done by the front five there and the backs were there, I just got the ball and was lucky enough to be able to cross the line. I think Freemo [Tommy Freeman] was giving me a bit of grief there, I should have passed it to him. It's always nice to cross the line but it would have been even better if we got the win.”

The atmosphere at the Aviva wasn’t lost on the veteran centre, especially after playing the last Lions tour behind closed doors. The 2025 expedition across Australia certainly feels like a 'proper' Lions tour, as Aki was asked how the event compared to the empty stadiums of the 2021 Covid-era trip to South Africa.

“I genuinely got goosebumps when I ran outside and saw the sea of red out there. It's unbelievable, it's actually unreal compared to what we had the last time, which was no fans. Honestly, thanks for the fans for actually coming out and supporting us.”

He added: “You can't beat it. Then to be able to hear them sing Fields of Athenry, it's nice, and being able to hear the loud cheers and everything. It just means a lot.”