Done nothing wrong.

Peter O’Mahony is the latest man to come out and defend Bundee Aki and his inclusion in the Irish team. New Zealand-born Aki has been named in the starting line-up for Ireland’s Test with the Springboks this weekend, after recently becoming eligible through the residency rule.

The Connacht centre is one of the last remaining players to become eligible after three years, before the rule changes to five. Since his addition to the Irish set-up, a number of high-profile names in the media have been hugely critical of not just the rule, but Aki himself as a person. Some branding him a ‘mercenary for hire.’

Peter O’Mahony says he has played alongside some ‘super player’s who have represented Ireland as a result of the rule, and says he is disappointed with the amount of focus the media have put on Aki.

“I’ve been very lucky enough to play alongside some super players that have benefited and have come in from that rule,” the Munster captain said.

“It’s a rule that stands there and Bundee, or any of the [previous] lads, have done nothing wrong. I can’t understand why there was such a focus on him, personally. I didn’t think it was very impressive from a media point of view, to be honest. That’s the job and the life that we run, and it is part and parcel of it, and I suppose it’s water off a duck’s back for him.”

Aki starts at inside centre for Ireland this weekend against the Boks.