Ireland kept their Grand Slam and three-peat hopes alive with a hard-fought nine-point win over Wales last weekend.
It was far from the comprehensive win that was expected however, partly due to a host of uncharacteristic errors, but also as a result of Garry Ringrose's 20-minute red card for a high tackle on Ben Thomas.
While they were sloppy at times, Ireland unsurprisingly faced no greater challenge than surviving the red card period, with Wales not only gaining an eight-point advantage in Ringrose's absence, but also inflicting fifteen of the eighteen points they scored in that same period.
Fortunately, sitting on the bench jubilantly waiting to replace Ringrose was Bundee Aki, who would come on and have a game-changing impact as Ireland eventually got a foothold in the game and through Sam Prendergast's kicking boot and a spectacular Jamie Osbourne try defeated the Welsh 27-18.
However, the severe damage inflicted on them while reduced to fourteen men will undoubtedly serve as a timely reminder to Simon Easterby and Ireland just how competitive test rugby is.
22 February 2025; Bundee Aki of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
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While in any other competition, the red card would have seen Ireland reduced for the remainder of the game, under World Rugby's new laws which apply in the Six Nations, Ringrose was eligible to be replaced after twenty minutes.
Speaking about the incident on The Rugby Pod, England legend Andy Goode didn't mince his words on the topic, claiming not only that Ringrose deserved to be sent off, but also that Wales could've potentially won the game if Ireland had been permanently reduced to fourteen.
Justifying his claim, the former outhalf felt that Ringrose's temporary absence simply didn't have enough impact on Ireland for the offence committed.
I feel a little bit sorry for Wales....this is the problem with Rugby Union....we saw what happened Bundee Aki comes on and monsters the game and makes a massive difference.
Any other game of rugby at the minute that is a straight red card (for Ringrose) and he's gone for the rest of the game.
Yet in rugby union, we've got the Six Nations playing with a bunker and a 20-minute red card. In the leagues that these lads are playing in; the URC, the Prem, the Champions Cup, and all that stuff it's a straight red card, I thought Wales were hard done by, he gets red carded fully for the game, which I think he deserved to get.
We're trying to get these tackles out of the game, but the 20-minute red card just shows that its not enough of an impact on a team. Had that gone through as a full red and not a 20-minute red and Bundee Aki doesn't come on, you're looking at Wales potentially winning that game.
The 20-minute red card has proved particularly controversial since its introduction, with some fearing the undoing of recent work to protect player welfare and others making the case that accidental fouls aren't reason enough to reduce a side to fourteen permanently and potentially ruin the spectacle on display.
Regardless of the technicalities, Ireland can be very thankful that they were able to replace Ringrose with a much needed injection-of-energy from Bundee Aki last Saturday.
The Irish centre is now set to face a disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning at 9 am, where it will be decided whether he is to face a suspension or further punishment for the tackle.
