Mack Hansen reveals how he left Ireland teammate out to dry against Wallabies
The Six Nations has come and gone, and while Andy Farrell built some much-needed depth, they still likely missed several key players, including Mack Hansen.
The Connacht winger missed the whole tournament after having foot surgery for an injury he picked up during the November Internationals. Andy Farrell hinted before the Six Nations that he is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Hansen has been a fan favourite since his Ireland debut in 2022, and the shrewd signing from Connacht when Hansen was out of favour at the Brumbies, and it looked like he wasn’t destined for the International scene.
Mack Hansen. Pic: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Five years on since he moved to Galway, Hansen is no doubt one of the biggest stars in Irish rugby, getting himself on the British & Irish Lions Tour last summer back in his home country, where he also lined out in his hometown of Canberra when the Lions faced the Brumbies.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Kick Offs and Kick Ons podcast, Hansen talked about when he first faced his home country back in the November series in 2022.
That night was a tense affair, as with Jack Crowley coming in for his first start for Johnny Sexton after Sexton had to pull out in the warm-up, Ireland won 13-10 on a cold night at the Aviva Stadium.
Mack Hansen of Ireland evades the tackle of Australia’s Len Ikitau. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Hansen started pm the wing in that game, with Jimmy O’Brien on the other side. Before the game, O’Brien had asked Hansen about winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, whom Hansen was familiar with during his time Down Under and was only making his second cap for the Wallabies.
‘Me and Marky Mark [Nawaqanitawase] came up sort of around the same time and everything. This is actually a very funny story cuz I got a lot of time for Mark, but when I left, we were probably in very similar positions, we weren’t playing much and stuff.’ Hansen said on the podcast.
‘And I remember telling, like Jimmy O’Brien, who was marking him that week, being like, “Oh, look, I think you got his number, like he’s alright here and there and stuff, but like nothing special.”
Jimmy O’Brien and Mack Hansen. Pic: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Little did Hansen or O’Brien know that Nawaqanitawase was on his way to becoming one of the best wingers on the planet.
Before switching to Rugby League, he was sensational, scoring 6 tries from just 11 caps for the Wallabies between November 2022 and October 2023.
‘And then ever since I talked Mark down, he’s arguably been the best winger in the world, has he not?’ Hansen joked before telling how Jimmy O’Brien felt after having to face the talented winger for 80 minutes.
Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
‘I remember after the game Jimmy coming up to me being like, “Are you serious? What was that? You just completely talked him down to me.” and I went, “Yep. I was wrong. I didn’t see that coming.”
Currently playing in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters, Nawaqanitawase has continued his trajectory of becoming a rugby star and recently signed a deal to switch back over to rugby union in time for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
