It's a busy period for Ireland in which we get a window into Joe Schmidt's thinking heading into this two year cycle ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Connacht centre Bundee Aki will make his Ireland debut against South Africa on Saturday after qualifying under the three year residency rule. 

It's a selection that has elicited a range of different reactions in regard to people's views on whether players who qualify under the current residency rule like Aki, CJ Stander and Jared Payne should be selected by Ireland.

Brian O'Driscoll joined Ger and Dave for the Friday Night BODcast and he gave his take on the Aki case which you can watch above.  

One current player who came out in defence of Aki recently was Peter O'Mahony and speaking of the Munster and Ireland back row, there is plenty of interest in his signature from cash rich French and English clubs as Brian discussed with the lads. 

And of the players beginning to make their marks for Ireland, there is a certain Munster wing and full back in the shape of Andrew Conway. While his progress has been steady of late, BOD encountered the player when Conway was a young star at Blackrock College and was impressed by him.     

Brian also looked ahead to Ireland's first November International test against South Africa this Saturday at Aviva Stadium and while some observers may take a blasé attitude towards it given it isn't a Six Nations clash and is still two years out from the Rugby World Cup, he instead pointed out that the way the pool draws have panned for Japan 2019, the result in this game is significant for both ourselves and the Springboks as there is every chance both sides will meet in the quarter finals given that Ireland are favourites to top Pool A and South Africa would be expected to finish second to New Zealand in Pool B.