Former Brumbies teammates glad to see Mack Hansen 'grow up'

Just the mention of madcap Mack Hansen’s name brings a beaming smile to the faces of the old Brumbies who used to be his teammates.

But the Wallabies are fully aware the skill and daring of their eccentric old mate, now a cult figure in Irish green, may be no laughing matter on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) when the Canberra flyer seeks another victory over his home country.

Winger Hansen, now thriving at Connacht and a stalwart of the Irish team at 26, is another who slipped beneath the Wallabies’ radar and into a rival Test team, thanks to his mum Diana hailing from Castlemartyr in County Cork before she moved with her family to Australia as a kid.

Now he’s convinced he’s playing for the best team on the planet, as he prepares to try to beat Australia a second time after the 13-10 win over the Wallabies at the Aviva Stadium two years ago.

Before the world’s No.2-ranked side beat Fiji last week, Hansen had declared: “I truly believe we’re the best team in the world. The South Africans are going to hate me for this…”

That’s typical Mack. There’s ne’er a dull moment with the affable figure who once ended up apologising profusely for letting an F-bomb go in a post-Test TV interview and who now sports a tattoo of Ireland coach Andy Farrell on his leg after losing a bet with teammate Johnny Sexton.

“I just think it’s good to see him grow up,” laughed James Slipper, Hansen’s old Brumbies teammate who’s genuinely delighted, along with the rest of the Australian team, that the maverick hit the big-time in Ireland.

“He was like a genuine Canberra boy, so to come to Ireland and do as well as he has done, it is just phenomenal to watch, as a mate.

“Even back at Brums, he used to get his parents to pick him up at training every day and make his lunch and stuff like that. Hopefully, he’s got that sorted now!”

Tom Wright, a Brumbies’ backline buddy, added: “He’s quickly become one of the cult heroes over here for a good reason, playing a brand of football that’s entertaining to watch. He was always that skilful, talented player in Canberra.

“He was one of the favourite guys in the locker room too. It’s awesome to see how quickly he adapted to the Irish lifestyle and Irish style of play.”

But it’s clearly still a regret for the Wallabies that the man whose try-double against Fiji took him to a total of 13 from 26 appearances slipped through their net.

“He’s definitely one that got away,” recalled Wallabies’ assistant coach Laurie Fisher, who was at the Canberra club at that time.

“We made a good offer and would have loved to have kept him, but he had got an opportunity over here and he’s shown what capacity he had.

“I think he just had the freedom to play and be himself over here, and maybe felt there was more of a strait-jacket on him at home.

“He’s a free spirit, a wonderfully talented player and, given the right environment, he’s shown what he’s capable of producing.

“So, yeah, disappointing to lose him but again you’ve just got to smile when you see people succeed in whatever environment on the world stage.”