Bundee Aki: The Ireland and Lions star delves into his career on Ireland Rugby Social

Joining Connacht – who were coached by fellow Aucklander Pat Lam – was the stepping stone.

In the 2015–16 season, he missed just one match as the team won its first Pro12 title. Ake was named Player of the Year and, having completed a three-year residency period under World Rugby rules of the time, was eligible to represent Ireland ahead of the 2017 Autumn Internationals.

His inclusion in the Irish squad sparked a fierce debate over the World Rugby Championship’s three-year residency rule – which was later extended to five years – but Ake says he has learned how to block out outside noise.

“It’s always been there,” he said of the hype surrounding the base.

“Obviously a lot of people interviewed me about it. I tried to stay away from it because I knew about the hype that was going around me, and guys got angry about it.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see that. There’s a lot of stuff online. It just comes with it. I’ve been lucky to have people around me. My partner said, ‘You don’t have to worry about it, you just perform and then that’s it.’

Fellow New Zealand-born James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park also qualified for Ireland under the residency law, and Ake said they were still “hearing noise about it”.

He added: “I think that’s just part of it. I don’t have any problem with people’s opinions. Unless they come out and say that to my face while my kids and my wife are there, that’s a different story.”

“It’s okay for people to say what they have to say. It won’t hurt me.”