“I was proper f**ked!”
Mack Hansen is still on the road to recovery and will hope Connacht are still dicing for silverware, as they were last season, by the time he returns from his shoulder injury.
Hansen missed out on this year’s Six Nations after dislocating his shoulder while on Connacht duty, in the United Rugby Championship.
Conscious that he still has a big part to play, for Ireland, over the coming years, Andy Farrell invited him and other injured players – Jimmy O’Brien and Ross Byrne – along to the home win over Italy. He also brought Hansen into camp to do some of his rehab work, so he could link in with the squad and stay in the tactical loop. Then, after Ireland retained their Six Nations title, the 25-year-old joked that Farrell had offered to pen him a ‘sick note’ to show to Connacht so he could go celebrating with his Ireland teammates.
During our chat with Hansen, the winger promoted the Wings for Life World Run, praised the continued, positive impact of Bundee Aki, spoke of Jamison Gibson-Park as a still underrated Test gem, and rounded on the rugby writer that himself took aim at foreign players representing nations like Ireland, England and Scotland. He also opened up on the two biggest tackles he ever shipped in his rugby career.
Mack Hansen on the tackle that bruised his lung
In the past, on these pages, we have featured recollections from players such as Brian O’Driscoll, Jack Conan and Sean O’Brien on the tackles they have been on the receiving end of, and never forgot.
O’Driscoll said former England forward Richard Hill was the toughest player he ever faced off against, but Jonny Wilkinson was the player that hit him with the hardest ever tackle in his decorated rugby career. “I couldn’t walk for two days,” he recalled, with a wince.
For Mack Hansen, the worst tackle he ever took will probably never be topped, even if he plays on for another decade. He told us:
“So, the worst tackle I’ve ever had was actually my debut for the Brumbies. The guy bruised my lung.
“I was proper… can I swear? I was proper f**ked.
“Oh, that was horrific. I felt so sick after that.”
The next big shunt he has, below that on his list, comes from an Ireland teammate. “I got another pretty big rib tickler off Garry Ringrose, last year, which is still in my head. I still gotta get him back for that one.
“He absolutely nailed me as well. Garry is just made a concrete, that fella. Like, when he hits you, he gives it absolutely everything.”
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