Mack Hansen has had his fill of corporate glad-handing and coal-raking with journalists these past eight months, since the inimitable Ireland wing suffered what he described as the worst injury of his career.
In the closing minutes of a New Year’s Day clash with Munster which his Connacht side would go on to win, Hansen went for a breakdown poach and John Hodnett cleared him out, with some force. He suffered a ‘pretty excruciating’ shoulder dislocation and has not played since.
Many of the game’s best players must account for extra corporate and media appearances on the road back from long-term injury. At times, Hansen must feel he has talked himself out. Once he gets going, though, he is always a fascinating and engaging interviewee.
Four years after Covid-19 tipped Super Rugby on its head and helped set in motion a chain of events that led to one of Australia’s best backline prospects lining up for Ireland, he went into 2024 with bounding ambition. The previous year he had won a Grand Slam, helped his province to the United Rugby Championship semi-finals, then embarked on his first World Cup experience.
In March, as Ireland’s Six Nations drew to a close, Hansen was still hoping to get back by the business end of the season. He was in good form as he lavished praise on Bundee Aki, Damian Penaud and spoke of how “monumental” Keith Earls was in helping him settle into international rugby. Our chat came soon after a comment piece in the English press that questioned how suitable it was for the likes of James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe to line out for Ireland and Scotland.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” Hansen began, “but I thought it was just a pretty stupid comment. Like, to say James Lowe is as Irish as a Shamrock Shake? Lowey has lived for a good amount of years here. He’s had a kid here, and has done so much.
“This isn’t just him – this is Jamo (Gibson-Park), this is Bundee, Finlay (Bealham). This is me, it’s everyone… I’m sure it’s the same in all the other places. They give absolutely everything to this country, on the field, but also off the field, as well. A lot of those guys are doing plenty of stuff with charities and helping around.
It was a stupid comment when [the journalist] obviously has no idea the amount of pleasure these guys bring to this country and what they do for it.
“I think that’s why people have taken to them as well, because they’re not only good people on the field but off the field. Everyone’s just really bought into it themselves.
“It was a stupid comment,” Hansen added, “when [the journalist] obviously has no idea on the amount of pleasure these guys bring to this country and what they do for it.”
Like Lowe, Hansen has proved a tonic for rugby reporters in Ireland and beyond. Neither came up through the provincial ranks and neither is imbued with that traditional Irish sporting mentality of trying to get through an interview by saying as little as possible. Lowe was the headline-grabber when he first arrived at Leinster but has settled somewhat. Hansen is still out there, speaking his mind, slagging team-mates, crooning karaoke tunes and taking in the local tipples.
“Look, it’s an ‘I am what I am’ sort of thing,” he reasoned. “I was never going to change who I was. It was part of the reason how I got over here, and why I’ve been successful. I’ve been able to express myself on the rugby field, and if I’m comfortable off the field, that makes things a lot easier.
“There are some big characters in that (Ireland) team, that’s for sure. It’s tough, because you find when a lot of people just relax or be themselves, people or the media kick up a stink, straight away. A lot of people say they want to see someone’s true colours but when that happens, they may go, ‘Oh, you can’t say that, and you can’t say this’. But the longer we go on, I think you’ll have more people just being themselves.
“As a whole, though, we really shouldn’t care too much about the outside noise. The people that know you, know you well. No matter what, you’re always going to have haters. If we can keep in mind what everyone is going through, a lot more people will shine through. I’m telling you, there’s plenty more characters in that Irish squad.”
My next catch-up with Hansen occurred a month later, when he was up in Dublin for a sponsorship announcement. The big chat that week was Leinster signing Jordie Barrett for a big chunk of next season, adding him to the RG Snyman capture.
“Looking at it from a Connacht point of view,” he observed, “I know we’d jump at signing Jordie, if we had the chance. It’s no fault to Leinster. If you’ve got the cash and you can sign players like that, go for it. It’s great for them and will be great for Irish rugby. He’ll bring in a lot of crowds. On the other hand, he’s the type of guy you’d hate to play against. He’s well-rounded and is one of those players in the world that pretty much has everything. It’s exciting and it also sucks, at the same time.”
There’s going to be some feeling in that one, especially the way the quarter-final ended, with a bit of trash talk from both sides, here and there.
Then came a moment which makes Hansen who he is. He was pondering the prospect of the summer series against South Africa when he looked further out on the calendar, to the All Blacks’ November visit to Dublin. “Then we go into New Zealand,” he began. There was a slight pause as the cogs worked, and he gauged how far he should go.
“There’s going to be some feeling in that one, especially the way the quarter-final ended, with a bit of trash talk from both sides, here and there. Mostly, it was from the New Zealand side, and their WAGs [wives and girlfriends], you know. Fair play – letting their girlfriends do their fighting for them! We’re excited for all that. Then we have Australia coming over, and all these other top teams. Mate, it’s going to be fun. We’ll find out where we are at.”
If Rassie Erasmus can sell some tickets for the Springboks’ home stands, Hansen does a fine job for the Irish cause.
Our most recent chat took place in Galway, as Hansen arrived at The Huntsman Inn after wrapping a Canterbury shoot. This was his last official duty of the day and the 26-year-old took a seat, cap covering his bleached blonde hair, and spoke with a determination in his voice I had not heard before. Ireland’s past seven Tests have shown very few players have firm ownership of their starting jerseys. Down in South Africa, captain Peter O’Mahony was benched for the deciding Test while Jamie Osborne made Hugo Keenan watch as he performed nervelessly in the full-back role. It was in this jersey Hansen played his final three Connacht matches before the injury struck him down.
We are heading into a British and Irish Lions season, with Farrell leading the tourists Down Under at the end of another long slog. Having taken a shine to George North and Leigh Halfpenny when they toured Australia with the Lions in 2013, I ask what it would mean to wear that famous red jersey in his home country.
“I’d be speechless to be involved,” Hansen begins, before taking a beat and focusing on the immediate goals. “Genuinely, even talking about it now and using a massive cliché, I’m not too worried about it as I’m just looking at getting back playing footy and trying to get my spot back in the Ireland team. Calvin (Nash) was great in the Six Nations and definitely earned us some points in that squad. So it’s not like I’m thinking, ‘I’m back, I’m good, and I’m just going to walk into the team’.
“My main focus is actually getting back in the squad, first of all. Then I’ll be going up against guys like Jacob Stockdale, Jimmy (O’Brien), Jordan Larmour, Calvin. There are so many good guys that can play on the wing, like Rob Baloucoune. The list can go on and on. My sole purpose will be getting back in that Ireland squad, before I think about Lions tours, or anything like that. I’ll throw James Lowe in there, too. Sorry, Lowey!”
Connacht are well into their pre-season preparations, with a couple of social outings arranged to make up for the gym sessions and training ground shuttles. If Hansen is unleashed from the get-go, it will still be almost nine months since he last took the field for a fully loaded crack.
“We genuinely think we have a great squad,” he declares. “We know it. We’ve got unreal players. I’m not making any excuses, we weren’t good enough last year. We had a good few injuries and stuff didn’t go our way. The year before that, we made the top four and almost managed to make another final. We’re very capable of winning it all over again. I truly, truly believe that.
“I haven’t done a full pre-season for a good couple of years but it is great being in there. There is such a good feeling in the camp. We know people are going to underestimate us and maybe see us as an easy game. That’s great – they can do that all they like. We’ve talked about it. We don’t care about what anyone else thinks. We’re going to make it really s**t to play against us, wherever we are.
“I’m chomping at the bit to get playing rugby again. The end is in sight.”
The time for talking is almost, almost over.
Ireland took that QF as seriously as a RWC final. Did you watch that match and seriously think Ireland treated it as any other game? All of this stuff about Ireland being arrogant, not taking the match seriously is utter nonsense. Ask any team any pundit any supporter in the NH about that. They KNOW Ireland. You are believing people who invent stuff for clicks?
We have never made a semi final, we are playing NZ who always beat us in the RWC. We know they are resurgent after almost scoring 100 points against Italy. We know they are out for revenge as they always are. We know they have been preparing specifically to beat us for months. We know they have had a clear run of 5 weeks since the loss for France to prepare to peak for the QF. We know that for three of those weeks they know that Ireland is their opponent. Ireland know also that they have to dispatch Scotland 7 days before the NZ match or be eliminated, they know that they have de facto one proper training session before this match.
And you think that we didnt take it seriously? Can you please think before typing?
THe video from above shows exactly what happenned. Ioane walks past Sexton, shakes his hand, then he shakes Joe O'Briens hand then he turns and says something in to the back of Sextons head (presumably the flight home comment) then he shakes another Irish guys hand. Then walks sideways out of the line when he realizes that the Irish guys know something is up.
He made gestures to the Irish crowd before and after this. Don't know when Retallick made his comment to POM. Dont know what other comments were made to other irish players.
Again its clear: winning players mocking losing players and supporters. It has never happenned in a RWC before.
No, theres definitely a new wave of Irish sentiment towards their opponents since they started getting good.
They could have used some of that in their quarter final, instead of just treating it as another game. With all this wind it will most likely be wasted before your next chance comes around though.
Found a video of the Sexton thing. It appears that Sexton was speaking to Reiko when he turned back to Johnny and gave him a smart ass send off look. Sexton even continues to have the last word. Not classy mate, I can understand your dislike for such matters having him in your team for the last decade.
Cane took it personally. He got the p1ss taken out of him over it and the media came down like a ton of brinks on him because he was the losing captain during the series. He couldn't quite disguise the smirk whan asked about it in the prerss conference after.
You will wish it was just me when November comes around.
Erasmus made a mistake in the SA series. He pissed Ireland off too much sending his players out to media with that 'arrogant' sh1t beforehand. Ireland messed up in Pretoria, underperformed and then failed to take advantage of being only 13-8 down when SA were completely goosed after 50 mins. (Like NZ Ireland should be winning at altitude in SA).
Then in that game Snyman badly hurt Casey with a late one. That looked very very much like a 'anyone get a chance to hit that wee guy take it' instruction from Erasmus.
After that Ireland just decided they were going to physically smash them and win that game. They got tired in the second half but came back and won it.
Now way back in the 5N Ireland had plenty of wooden spoons but also plenty seasons with just one win. Incredibly, the win was often against England. They would say something, go too far and the mindset would change to 'beat the sh1t out of them while winning the game'.
Rassie had missed that. He kind of sensed it between the tests when he shut up and he has been quiet since. The Ireland-NZ match will be like that. You will see.
Sam Cane was asked about POM and he said it was good rugby banter. When it happened live I thought it was classic.
The media get paid to make everything overly dramatic, take that with a grain of salt.
Rieko might give the SA crowd some stick. Be great entertainment if he does.
By ‘this Irish team and Irish supporters’ you mean little ol’ you.
But reading all your other comments, I guess you were maybe being ironic.
At least the kiwis can get girlfriends.
A bit more feeling than banter there. I was hoping to see it and glad to see it.
Not sure how NZ media or the NZ national team made it through primary after their reaction to "Sh1t McCaw"?
If NZ beat SA in Ellis park and Ioane walks over to a stand full of Boks supporters, makes his shushing gestures or cups his ear what do you think would happen? Now if a few NZ players started mocking Kolisi, Etzebeth or others..do you think there would be a reaction? Do you think SA players would shrug that off....that SA supporters would be ok with those gestures?
Now you know whats going to happen in Dublin and every match after. Think more intense than the first half in Durban, genuine hate in there, with a full Irish team and playing in the Aviva.
What has happenned is that Irish team and Irish supporters simply think NZ are arrogant a$$holes now. It has made the NZ series even sweeter now where the self proclaimed All Black Aura was shredded for all to see.
Blocked Terry 24.
Much better experience
Kiwi birds are rough.
We really are.
Yes, same account but I had to change the visible account name because assholes were disparaging it.
In the video Ioane shakes hands with Sexton, walks past him then shouts at the back of his head, then walks away. Real asshole stuff.
Ioane had gestured to the Irish crowd before and then after this. Irish players didnt see it at the time luckily for Ioane. Retallick and other players continued mocking Ireland's players.
Looking forward to seeing you arrogant gits in Dublin. No doubt we will feel the All Black 'Aura' as you approach the stadium. #Muppets
Just to note Ioane's actions to the Irish crowd in Paris made him (and NZ) guilty of exactly the same misconduct as earned Sexton a severe sanction before the RWC. Although Sexton apologized immediately, and took his medicine, Ioane published condescending posts to Irish fans on his Instagram account that evening. His behaviour was supported by Foster and Cane in a press conference after. There is video evidence of Ioane gesturing, pretty clearcut. Ireland let it go. Obviously the privileged NZ didnt even notice. We will deal with the arrogant NZ in other ways.
Misconduct 18.4 (b) acting in an abusive, insulting, intimidating or offensive manner towards referees, assistant referees, Citing Commissioners, members of Disciplinary Tribunals or other officials or any person associated with the Host Union, the Rugby Body or the Unions participating in the Match or spectators;
Code of conduct 1.11 shall not use crude or abusive language or gestures towards Match Officials or spectators;
18.5 Unions are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their Players and all Persons within their jurisdiction. Unions, Players and Persons must conduct themselves in a disciplined and sporting manner and ensure that they do not commit any act(s) of Misconduct.
Bruh, get some help. The game was almost a year ago. Sexton is still way more of a jumped-up weasel than anyone you're trying to target with this quoted fluff, and he deserved that sanction and more. Ireland dished out their own pile of wankery while in NZ and you're still wailing about them getting it handed back. Maybe they should consider a different strategy if they're not up for it.
Hi Terry
Just checking in to see if you’re okay today and calm down a wee bit ? I was very worried about your stress levels yesterday
You are a strange lad, sexton never took ownership, the ref said he never got an apology, are you actually upset that a player held his hand to his ear to a crowd? My wife is from Blackrock Dublin and even she says sexton was never a good role model for kids and you all got to cocky before the QF, look Terry I understand why your angry mate being the only tier 1 nation to have never made it past the QF is embarrassing but no need for this chip on your shoulder
Insane how Hansen's comment has triggered a certain type of NZ supporter. At least genuine NZ supporters are now appraised about how NZ players behaved towards beaten Irish players and supporters after the final whistle in Paris.
And I'll judge Ireland fans by the ones who were starting fights after they won their NZ tour in wellington.
Theres no difference between before or after the whistle, what on earth are you on about?
You obviously don't know NZers or their rugby, we (players) are happy to give the opposition (ie crowd) the middle finger, at any point in the game.
The All Blacks mana you are talking about them having is the concept of helping a valiant and honorable foe up of the ground when theyre done, ensuring their safety, not giving them a pat on the back after the final whistle for being a prickly. Pathetic.
HAHAHAHA I googled what you said and got an article that said Sexton mouthed off at Ioane for a gesture that wondered where the crowds voice was. Is that all it was? Pathetic, your player was the only one who warrants criticism, again. I'm not even a fan of Ioane, so your crying is taking the cake!
We never made a thing of the "you're a sheet McCaw" thing and you're telling me the Irish are crying over this? Sexton said it after the game, they werent even thinking about trying to make the final. Didn't contemplate it, just enjoying the ride they were. What a loser mentality you guys must have in the country. Some defeats (if you get back to the brilliant attacking game you have and become a threat again) while you're at the top will do you good, because they wont stop at that quarter final loss.
Mate what do you expect after Jonny sexton and Peter talking trash to the NZ players in the games the year before in NZ? It seem to me you Irish are happy to give it not take it? Let’s not forget your players told the SA boys see them in the final before playing the All Blacks…think this guys 2 ways