The weather in the Algarve is overcast and much of the rugby chat here has revolved around the rather gloomy Bundee Aki case. But the IRFU had intimate knowledge of the events that took place after Connacht’s defeat to Leinster, given that Aki and the match officials involved are all employees of the union. Abusive behaviour of any kind has no place in rugby and match officials are on the receiving end of too much of it. That is speculative for now, but it doesn’t seem as if Ireland are ready to cut Aki loose. The impression at their training base today is that Ireland want to show Aki that they are fully behind him despite his ban.