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'He's not going to get rattled by mistakes': Unheralded 22-year-old match winner praised by Brumbies

Mack Hansen (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa never doubted unheralded youngster Mack Hansen would nail a match-winning penalty to sink Queensland.

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The 22-year-old might have missed a regulation penalty less than 10 minutes earlier at GIO Stadium on Saturday, but he stepped up to make an even harder kick after the siren.

About 40m out, Hansen’s kick never looked like missing to lift the Brumbies to a 22-20 win and ensure they remain undefeated this Super Rugby AU season.

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Brumbies coach Dan McKellar interview – Reds Round Five

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Brumbies coach Dan McKellar interview – Reds Round Five

Allalatoa had full trust in the bench player taking the vital kick, with the Brumbies reeling in a six-point deficit with six minutes to play.

“We continued to play our footy and then the penalty came and he just pointed out the sticks,” the star prop said.

“As a player he’s come a long way this year. For him to have the confidence there to step up and win the game says a lot about himself.”

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said he was proud that the five-gamer backed himself in.

“He’s (Hansen) a Canberra boy who’s been supporting the Brumbies since he was a toddler,” McKellar said. “For him to step up with confidence and kick a clutch penalty goal was brilliant so really proud of him.

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“He’s not going to get rattled by mistakes. He’s a kid who will back his skill and ability.

“He’ll make a mistake or two here and there, that’s him as a footballer, but he backs himself. The pros far outweigh the cons with him.”

The result lifts the Brumbies a game-and-a-half clear on top of the ladder, with the Reds left shattered about blowing an opportunity to win their first game in Canberra since 2014.

Fulltime
BRUMBIES 22 (Folau Fainga’a 2, Connal McInerney tries Bayley Kuenzle 2 cons Mack Hansen pen) bt QUEENSLAND REDS 20 (Angus Scott-Young, Harry Wilson tries James O’Connor 2 cons 2 pens) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Nic Berry.
AAP

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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