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Ireland explain Hansen inclusion, react to Scotland axing Russell
Ireland coach Andy Farrell has explained why Mack Hansen is back in the starting line-up to face a Scotland team this Saturday that won’t feature Finn Russell from the start. Test novice Hansen, who served his rugby apprenticeship in Australian Super Rugby before joining Connacht, started the opening three games of the Guinness Six Nations only to lose out last weekend against England.
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Farrell went with Andrew Conway and James Lowe for the 32-15 win at Twickenham. However, with Conway since minding what the IRFU reported as a “knee niggle”, Hansen has been picked on the right wing.
A win on Saturday would clinch Ireland the Triple Crown and put them top of the table prior to the final game of the tournament featuring the Grand Slam-chasing France and the wounded England.
Speaking about his recall to the starting Ireland team of Hansen with Conway missing out on the matchday 23, Farrell said: “They are thoroughbreds in the back three, they are the ones that tend to break from time to time and it’s always good to have some strength in depth there. Mack has done unbelievable well…
“He has had a starting berth in a few matches. Straight from the off he has been very impressive. How a guy comes in that hasn’t got much international experience at all to be able to learn, hit the ground running, get up with the systems, how we want to play and be himself is tricky – but he has managed it seamlessly.
“He has played the first three games and had a week to sit out and take a breath and the pressure has been off. I’m sure he has reflected and you can see that reflection week has been good for him because he has been great at training this week.”
Farrell unveiled a starting Ireland XV showing three changes – Hansen for Conway, Iain Henderson for James Ryan and Jack Conan for Peter O’Mahony – earlier on Thursday at 1.30pm. That announcement came 75 minutes after Scotland had dropped the bombshell that first-choice out-half Russell was dropped in place of Blair Kinghorn, a player more familiar with wing and full-back at Test level as his only previous No10 start was against Tonga last October.
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Will that selection change the Ireland approach and what did Farrell make of the switch? “No, it doesn’t (affect the plan). Surprised? Yes and no. Everyone was expecting Finn to play, he is a great player. Blair, I mean I watched the Connacht game, he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
“We know him well, we know his strengths, very dangerous ball in hand, takes the line on., very dangerous counterattack wise, good passing game, a good kicking game as well and it’s a big game for him coming over to the Aviva but Gregor I suppose has had a look at him and picked on form because his last game for Edinburgh was outstanding.”
Farrell also touched on the scrum, an area of the game where Ireland gave away six penalties and a free-kick and won just a single penalty against England. “Yes, good learnings all round for us and for the officials,” he said about their set-piece review. “We are happy with the feedback that we got so the focus has been just about us, making sure we get our own house in order.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments