Wallabies prepare to face Ireland's Australia-born star Mack Hansen in final spring tour Test
Canberra-born Mack Hansen will front up for Ireland against the Wallabies in Dublin.
In short:
Australia-born Mack Hansen has been named on the wing to play the Wallabies in Dublin.
Hansen moved to Ireland in 2021 and made his Test debut the following season.
What's next?
The Wallabies will wrap up their four-Test tour with the clash against Ireland.
Just the mention of Mack Hansen's name brings a beaming smile to the faces of his former ACT Brumbies teammates.
But they will not extend any favours to the Canberra-born Hansen on Sunday morning AEDT when he lines up for Ireland on the wing in the Wallabies' final Test of their spring tour
Hansen qualifies to play for Ireland as his mother Diana hails from Castlemartyr in County Cork.
She moved with her family to Australia as a child.
Overlooked in Australia, Hansen relocated to Ireland in 2021 to play with club side Connacht, before making his Test debut the following year.
Hansen, a product of Canberra's Daramalan College, helped Ireland defeat the Wallabies 13-10 in Dublin in 2022.
Wallabies prop and former Brumbies teammate James Slipper said Hansen deserved praise for pursing his career away from Australia.
"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," Slipper said.
With a smile, Slipper added: "Even back at the Brumbies, 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."
Wallabies fullback Tom Wright said Hansen had become one of "the cult heroes" of Irish rugby.
"He was always that skilful, talented player in Canberra," Wright said.
"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."
Hansen (right) played for the ACT Brumbies before moving to Ireland.
But clearly there is regret among the Wallabies camp that Hansen slipped through their net.
"He's definitely one that got away," recalled Wallabies assistant coach Laurie Fisher, who was at the Brumbies at the same time as Hansen.
"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.
"He's a free spirit, a wonderfully talented player and, given the right environment, he's shown what he's capable of producing.
"So it's disappointing to lose him but again you've just got to smile when you see people succeed in whatever environment on the world stage."
Hansen will be joined by another former Canberran, Finlay Bealham, in Ireland's starting XV.
Bealham attended Canberra's St Edmund's College and will pack down at tighthead prop for Ireland against the Wallabies.
The Wallabies won the first two Tests of their spring tour, defeating England 42-37 and Wales 52-20.
They lost 27-13 to Scotland last Monday morning AEDT, the result costing them the chance of completing the grand slam.
AAP/ABC
By：ABC(责任编辑：admin)
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