Mack Hansen believes the motivational expertise of Andy Farrell are unrivalled and sensed Ireland’s beautiful Grand Slam success was on the playing cards as quickly as he entered the worldwide scene.
Australia-born wing Hansen was amongst a number of standout performers within the inexperienced jersey throughout an unforgettable Guinness Six Nations which climaxed with an exciting 29-16 Dublin victory over England.
The 24-year-old, who solely made his Test debut in final 12 months’s Triple Crown-winning marketing campaign after swapping Canberra-based membership Brumbies for Connacht in 2021, claimed three of his facet’s 20 tries throughout the championship.
His all-action shows have been a relentless menace for opponents, whereas his entertaining media interviews additionally garnered loads of consideration after he swore on tv following the round-three win in Italy after which claimed “everybody hates England” forward of Saturday’s finale.
Hansen paid tribute to Wigan-born head coach Farrell after the group backed up his long-held perception that lifting vital silverware was achievable.
“It wasn’t in my mind at all (when I moved to Ireland) but as soon as I was put into this team I knew that it was a thing that could happen,” he mentioned of the Six Nations clear sweep.
“They are just such good lads in the team, just full credit to the boys.
“All the coaches (deserve credit) but Andy, he can just get you up for a game like no other. He just seems to say all of the right things and it just sounds cooler in his accent as well.
“I don’t actually hate English people for anybody who saw that headline that was spread! I’m just putting that out there – just in case Andy saw it as well.”
Hansen, whose mom hails from Cork, arrived in Galway as a self-professed free spirit with a lust for journey and a penchant for a celebration.
He has since nailed down a spot on Ireland’s proper flank, with the presence of New Zealand-born James Lowe on the left additionally serving to to fulfill Farrell’s want for “messy” wingers.
Ireland will swiftly flip consideration to a shot at glory on the autumn World Cup in France.
Hansen insists that event is a “completely different beast” to the Six Nations and was decided to revel within the second reasonably than look too far forward.
Speaking pitch-side at a raucous Aviva Stadium, he mentioned: “I’m going to find it very hard not to swear this week, it is unbelievable!
“And I think pretty much everybody at the stadium stayed to enjoy this with us, it’s absolutely amazing.
“I’m pretty much in party mode at the moment. The next thing I’m thinking of is getting some beers down my gullet, enjoying tonight, enjoying tomorrow night, the night after.”
He continued: “It’s a great stepping stone but we know the World Cup is a completely different beast to the Six Nations.
“France, unbeaten in France in God knows how long, they’re going to be super tough. The All Blacks are back to their full strength, they’re playing some great footie.
“South Africa, Australia, all the teams that have come and played us in the autumn or Six Nations has been unbelievable, we know it’s going to be incredibly hard but that’s a thing to think of another day.”
England’s quest to break the St Patrick’s weekend celebration was severely broken by the dismissal of Freddie Steward simply earlier than half-time after he caught Hugo Keenan’s head together with his elbow as he turned to keep away from contact.
While he was glad to profit from the choice of referee Jaco Peyper, Hansen sympathised with the opposition.
“It was super unlucky,” he mentioned. “And to lose somebody like Freddie for them, he’s arguably been their best player for like two years now.
“A big plus for us, no complaints here but it was very, very unlucky. It threw a spanner in the works but fair play to them, they went the whole time. It was one of the hardest games we’ve played this tournament.”
