Former England international Freddie Burns expects that his brother and Ireland international Billy Burns will quickly put last weekend's disappointment against Wales behind him.
Joining Friday's OTB AM from Japan where he is now playing his club rugby, the five-capped English fly-half is well aware of the trials and tribulations that can follow a high-profile error.
"Let's not kid ourselves, mine is wholeheartedly worse than anything Bill did," he stated in relation to Burns' misplaced penalty kick in Ireland's Six Nations defeat to Wales last weekend.
"I dropped him a message after the game and then another mid-week just to check in, but having been in a similar situation [where] I've been there, taken the flak and bounced back from it, I just reached out to him to make sure he's alright.
"Bill is mentally very strong and he put his balls on the line at the weekend to go for the five-metre line and sometimes in that position it don't go for you. It is a test of character and he's taken a lot of stick for it which you're going to in professional sport, but he's a good lad and he will bounce back."
The subject of much criticism (no shortage of which slipped into despicable realms), Burns backed his brother to rise above any such comments.
"What can you do," he suggested, "you either sit there and sulk and let the armchair critics who are there with half their fish and chips still down their face get to you, or you crack on.
"Billy is the one in the Ireland shirt doing a job for his country."
An English-born pair of brothers, Billy Burns qualifies for Ireland through his paternal grandfather.
Although he represented England underage with some distinction, his brother discussed the nature of their relationship with Ireland and their father's pride at Billy's decision to play in green.
"We've got plenty of family in Dublin," explained Freddie of the family's ties to Ireland, "but I know what you Irish are like, you're all over the place.
"It is quite funny because I see myself as very much being English but I know especially for my old man, with his father being Irish, to see Bill represent the country of his Dad fills him with immense pride.
"We're very blessed to have been a family to get that but you see it all the time, don't you. That Scotland team at the minute, half of them are English."
England's Freddie Burns scores a try during the international friendly match at Twickenham, London.Ahead of another big weekend for Ireland against France in the second round of Six Nations games, Freddie Burns is adamant that his brother - should he feature again - will be more than up for the task at hand.
"Billy's fine," he declared, "and I know he's just focused on this weekend, getting out there and continuing the form that he's been in for Ulster and Ireland in the Autumn Nations Cup."
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
