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Every coach has that one player they just love. Like a parent who thinks their children are perfect, we all know of that one teammate who fits that billing. That applies from test level down to social Sunday leagues, and for Ireland, Mack Hansen is that guy.
Now, let’s not get it twisted. Mack Hansen is a wonderful rugby player who breaks the mould of Ireland’s traditional winger archetypes. Lads who work hard, defend well and chase kicks, without always offering gamebreaking ability. There’s a reason why Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy were anomalies, and not the norm.
Had those lads come through in this generation, maybe Mack Hansen never becomes a Lion, and remains a Connacht cult hero. Instead, some four years on from his debut in Galway ‘Mackenzie’ is an integral part of Ireland’s test squad.
If he wasn’t as important or as charming, maybe then his Andy Farrell tattoo wouldn’t be looked on as favourably. As the Canberra native faces into a third test against the country of his upbringing, Ireland badly needs his spark.
Ireland’s Attacking Frailties
Depending on which pundit you listen to, the ‘new Ireland’ is either a rerun of a new look altogether. Contrasting reports indicate two different things.
One is a return to the 2023 style - tip on passes, layers of depth, heavy pod shape, quick ruck ball.
The other is that they are moving to a wide-wide style, trying to circumvent a lack of power carriers, and leaning on the 9 to dictate the flow, and your 10 to kick heavy.
Which is it? No one really knows. Ireland kicked the ball 28 times against Japan and 32 times against New Zealand. So no real aversion to using the aerial game. In the recent Six Nations, they only kicked less than 30 times against Italy (18) and Scotland (24); while maxing out at 38 against Wales in Cardiff.
When you add in the fast-tracking of Leinster’s Tommy O’Brien; a hard working winger with sharp acceleration and power through contact; it starts to feel like ‘new Ireland’ is staring us right in the face.
The problem however, is whether the coaches have found the solution to the questions being asked. Ireland’s showing in Chicago was flat, and lacked a killer edge to break down an impenetrable Kiwi defence. Outside of Stuart McCloskey’s robust carrying, Ireland looked one-dimensional offensively, which is something Hansen could change.
What Hansen Adds
At his silky best, Mack Hansen is an extra set of hands in the backfield, a variable kicking option, a hard working winger and someone who can power through contact. This was the case in his breakout years of 2022 and 2023, and to be fair to Hansen, still applies even if injury has derailed him in recent seasons.
Ideally, Hansen’s debut start in the number 15 jumper will lead to more touches, and an added layer to Ireland’s attack. The frequency of which Sam Prendergast, mainly, reverted to long skip passes to the edges during the Six Nations, frustrated many fans, as it led to Ireland playing a stagnant version of attack that was easily swallowed up by opposing defences.
Ireland will hope that by adding Hansen to the handling rotation, possibly sitting in behind pods, will help Ireland move the focal point of the attack away from Jamison Gibson-Park, and to a more fluid spread of options.
Hansen’s attacking kicking ability will also allow Ireland to play for territory more, but can also get to width quickly if you use Prendergast and/or McCloskey as decoys; a move Ireland used frequently in 2023.
Hold the Ruck
If there is one question mark about Hansen’s inclusion, it is his ruck work in the edge spaces. At their best, Ireland created a lot of 1v1 matchups outside the 15 metre channels, which meant they required an edge forward (often Dan Sheehan), their full back Hugo Keenan, and a centre (Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw) to clear out rucks in those wide channels.
Hansen, despite being okay on attacking rucks, is not a specialist in the same way Keenan and Osborne are. This, in my opinion, is where Caelan Doris comes into play.
Doris’ offensive ruck work is arguably his biggest strength, but if he is asked to make over 25 carries and tackles combined, this might take a few energy bars out of his legs. Robbie Henshaw’s selection at 13 should help; but with no van der Flier and Keenan, Australia’s ground hogs will be sure to try and stifle Ireland… like Italy did to them last weekend.
Ireland needs a win, and Australia wants a scalp this Autumn. Ireland’s chances are not dependent on the returning Hansen, but it could go a long way.
Prediction: Ireland by 5
