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BBC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'The only team that can beat us is us'
In looking forward to his first start for the British and Irish Lions, against Western Force on Saturday, Mack Hansen couldn't stop himself from looking back to last Friday night's defeat by Argentina and the lessons learned."The only team that can beat us is us," he says, an arresting line from a compelling character. "If we're not on it and we're not doing things to the best of our ability, then that's what's going to let us down."Hansen came off the bench against Argentina and made a fine impact, not that you could tell that from his demeanour when talking about it. The Ireland wing is laid-back, for sure, but the quirkiness and the chilled persona is only part of who he a deadly seriousness about him, too. "I've officially become a Lion, which is incredible and everything, but we lost, so it was a real weird vibe. We're four of the best teams in the world, so the expectation is to win regardless of who you're playing."There were a few excuses that we could have had [for the loss to the Pumas] but we've thrown them out the door. We have some of the best players in the world and you should be winning every time. We'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again. So the plan is to win from here on out." The Australia-born winger is in from the start on Saturday against the Force, a team containing three of his old mates from the ACT Brumbies, including his old house-mate Bayley Kuenzle, who starts on the bench for the hosts in is made of Hansen's relaxed attitude but he reveals another side of himself. Does he get nervous? Will he be fretful before running out at Optus Stadium on Saturday?"Definitely, yeah, yeah," he says. "You know, come pre-game, I can barely eat anything. You've got the butterflies, you feel sick, you definitely have all that stuff, but you know, it's the best job in the world. I'd rather have those feelings than sitting around not having them."Anyone that says they don't get nervous is lying, to be honest. That's just what comes with playing at those levels because there's a lot at stake. It means something."Hansen, 27, is a curious sort. For a wing, he's not a prolific try-scorer. He's only once registered double-figures for a season as an elite player. He's not tall, he's not all that quick by modern standards, he's not as powerful as many as you see these days. He's far from a physical the sum of his parts is an outstanding package. His intelligence is the key. That's one of the things that his Ireland and Lions coach, Andy Farrell, loves about it. His game awareness, his decision-making, his work-rate, his appreciation of space, his habit of doing the right thing at the right time."I guess the other guys [Duhan van der Merwe, Tommy Freeman and James Lowe] would be a bit quicker and more physical than me. That's just not my game. I try to help out where I can, whether that's getting my hands on the ball, being a player at the back, those sort of things."My main strength is my work off the ball, so that's my focus a lot of the time. Keep working and try to get into the game wherever I can." That's a modest appraisal. Hansen's ability to read a game is interesting on the likely mindset of the Force's players on Saturday. "When you're coming up against a big team such as us, those guys will definitely be able to get up for that," he says."They've only got one game and then they're on holidays. You can rev yourself up. No, we're not expecting anything easy. We're not playing the Force this week with them thinking, 'All right, boys, let's go out here and lose by 40'"They're coming out thinking we can cause an upset."Just as the Brumbies did in June 2013. Tevita Kuridrani scored the only try and the Canberra boys won 14-12. "I was at the Brumbies game and the Brumbies beat the Lions," recalls Hansen, who was born and raised in Canberra and qualifies for Ireland and the Lions through his Irish mother."Things do happen. I remember that tour vividly - I remember the buzz around Australia, seeing these players that you never really get to see. It was just amazing, it was just cool to me. Now it's here and I'm doing it and it feels like I'm properly living a dream."The memory of that Brumbies victory was a glorious one once upon a time but now he's using it as a salutary tale, an experience to keep him on his toes. Fear of failure can be a suffocating thing, but used wisely, it can be a powerful force for good."I was with my dad and my brother [at the Brumbies match]. We were sitting behind the goalposts," he says. "It was a mad thing, because you don't expect anyone to actually do it. I've talked to guys about that afterwards, and they were juiced. They'd been pumped up for that game for weeks."Hansen believes the Force will be no different. They've had a lousy season but this is a chance to redeem themselves, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn over the fire the underdogs will bring must be doused by captain Dan Sheehan's impressive-looking team - or else that Hansen line about heads being chewed off will resurface.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Return of the Mack: Hansen ‘living the dream' on Lions trip back to Australia
Mack Hansen says he feels like is living in 'an alternate universe' on the eve of his first start for the British & Irish Lions in his native Australia. The winger, qualified for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, was a youngster in the crowd when the Lions last toured Australia 12 years ago and cannot wait to line up against one of his old housemates this weekend. The 27-year-old represented his homeland at under-20 level but says relocating to Europe was 'the best decision I ever made'. Nevertheless he has been pinching himself ever since flying in as a member of the 2025 Lions squad. 'It feels like I'm properly living the dream,' admitted Hansen before Saturday morning's fixture against Western Force, for whom his former Brumbies colleague and good friend Bayley Kuenzle now plays. 'On the last Lions tour I was at the game in Canberra and the Brumbies beat them. My dad, my brother and me were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. It seems like an alternate universe. I remember the buzz around Australia and seeing these players you didn't really get to see. It was amazing. I always loved the Lions and I didn't know it would be something that I'd get to do. But I'm here and I'm enjoying it.' Tom Court - Ireland's accidental Lion Listen | 40:32 That formative experience also taught him just how desperate the local Super Rugby sides are to take down the Lions. 'You don't expect anyone to actually do it but I talked to guys [at the Brumbies] after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks. They saw it as the be-all and end-all.' READ MORE Hansen, who has 28 Test caps, has absolutely no regrets about declaring for Ireland, where his allegiance is so complete he has a tattoo of Andy Farrell's face on his leg. 'I haven't really looked back at it and wondered: 'What if?' I've just been going forward with Ireland. I've got a new life over there, new friends, new family. For me, it's definitely the best decision I've ever made.' He also says his Aussie mates will now be expected to support the Lions – 'I'm expecting them to be wearing red; if not they won't be getting tickets' – but accepts the touring team need a victory following their 28-24 defeat against Argentina in Dublin last week. 'If you get the opportunity to play in the red jersey then, yeah, you should be winning games. We're [drawn from] four of the best teams in the world, so the expectation is to win regardless of who you're playing. 'There were a few excuses we could have had but we've thrown them out the door. At the end of the day [we have] some of the best players in the world. You should be winning every time. So every time it's a loss it just isn't good enough. We know we'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again so the plan is to win from here on out. The only thing that can beat us is us really.' Hansen's experience of Ireland's tactical approach, currently in the process of being transplanted to the Lions, could further enhance his prospects of making the Lions Test side, with the Western Force game offering an ideal chance to press his claims ahead of, among others, England's Tommy Freeman. 'We've all got different strengths. The other guys would be a bit quicker and more physical than me. That's not my game. For me, my main strength is my work off the ball. That's my focus a lot of the time: keep working hard and try and get into the game wherever I can.' – Guardian
Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Mack Hansen urges caution when the Lions take on Western Force
Hansen starts on the right wing against Western Force at Optus Stadium where he will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle. The 27-year-old was born and raised in Canberra and began his career playing for the most successful of Australia's Super Rugby franchises before joining Connacht in 2021. Selection for Ireland the following year was made possible through his Irish mother and 28 caps later he is on tour with the elite of British and Irish rugby, recalling a cautionary tale from 2013. 'I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,' he said. 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don't expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it. 'They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there's still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams. 'None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it's not just us that want to win. Sea of Blue vs Sea of Red 🦢🦁#StrongerTogether #Lions2025 @lionsofficial @OptusStadium — Western Force (@westernforce) June 26, 2025 'We want to win every game but the Force aren't saying 'all right boys, let's go out and lose by 40'. They'll be coming out thinking 'we can cause an upset'. They've only got one game, then they're on holiday. 'There will be this, then they'll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I'm sure they're going to give it their all. 'When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we're here, it will take its toll on us, but that's a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting.' Any doubt the Lions have a target on their backs was immediately dispelled by the 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin that the heavy underdogs from South America celebrated as if they had won the World Cup. Hansen knows that any more setbacks will be poorly received by the Lions' coaching team. Our team for Saturday night's Tour opener in Perth! 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 26, 2025 'We are four of the best teams and have some of the best players in the world. You should be winning every time, so every time it's a loss that just isn't good enough,' he said. 'That's the best thing that this group has on its shoulders at the moment because we know that and as disappointed as we were, we don't want to feel that again. 'If anything, it's good to feel it early and then we know that we'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again, so the plan is to win from here on out. 'A lot of the chat has been about us and what we need to improve. The only thing that can beat us is us really.'
North Wales Chronicle
7 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Mack Hansen urges caution when the Lions take on Western Force
Hansen starts on the right wing against Western Force at Optus Stadium where he will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle. The 27-year-old was born and raised in Canberra and began his career playing for the most successful of Australia's Super Rugby franchises before joining Connacht in 2021. Selection for Ireland the following year was made possible through his Irish mother and 28 caps later he is on tour with the elite of British and Irish rugby, recalling a cautionary tale from 2013. 'I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,' he said. 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don't expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it. 'They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there's still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams. 'None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it's not just us that want to win. Sea of Blue vs Sea of Red 🦢🦁#StrongerTogether #Lions2025 @lionsofficial @OptusStadium — Western Force (@westernforce) June 26, 2025 'We want to win every game but the Force aren't saying 'all right boys, let's go out and lose by 40'. They'll be coming out thinking 'we can cause an upset'. They've only got one game, then they're on holiday. 'There will be this, then they'll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I'm sure they're going to give it their all. 'When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we're here, it will take its toll on us, but that's a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting.' Any doubt the Lions have a target on their backs was immediately dispelled by the 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin that the heavy underdogs from South America celebrated as if they had won the World Cup. Hansen knows that any more setbacks will be poorly received by the Lions' coaching team. Our team for Saturday night's Tour opener in Perth! 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 26, 2025 'We are four of the best teams and have some of the best players in the world. You should be winning every time, so every time it's a loss that just isn't good enough,' he said. 'That's the best thing that this group has on its shoulders at the moment because we know that and as disappointed as we were, we don't want to feel that again. 'If anything, it's good to feel it early and then we know that we'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again, so the plan is to win from here on out. 'A lot of the chat has been about us and what we need to improve. The only thing that can beat us is us really.'
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Mack Hansen urges caution when the Lions take on Western Force
Hansen starts on the right wing against Western Force at Optus Stadium where he will face some of his old Brumbies team-mates, including a former housemate in Bayley Kuenzle. The 27-year-old was born and raised in Canberra and began his career playing for the most successful of Australia's Super Rugby franchises before joining Connacht in 2021. The British and Irish Lions were beaten by the Brumbies in 2013 (David Davies/PA) Selection for Ireland the following year was made possible through his Irish mother and 28 caps later he is on tour with the elite of British and Irish rugby, recalling a cautionary tale from 2013. 'I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen,' he said. 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don't expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it. 'They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there's still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams. 'None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win – it's not just us that want to win. 'We want to win every game but the Force aren't saying 'all right boys, let's go out and lose by 40'. They'll be coming out thinking 'we can cause an upset'. They've only got one game, then they're on holiday. 'There will be this, then they'll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I'm sure they're going to give it their all. 'When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we're here, it will take its toll on us, but that's a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting.' Any doubt the Lions have a target on their backs was immediately dispelled by the 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin that the heavy underdogs from South America celebrated as if they had won the World Cup. Hansen knows that any more setbacks will be poorly received by the Lions' coaching team. Our team for Saturday night's Tour opener in Perth! 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 26, 2025 'We are four of the best teams and have some of the best players in the world. You should be winning every time, so every time it's a loss that just isn't good enough,' he said. 'That's the best thing that this group has on its shoulders at the moment because we know that and as disappointed as we were, we don't want to feel that again. 'If anything, it's good to feel it early and then we know that we'll get our heads absolutely chewed off if it happens again, so the plan is to win from here on out. 'A lot of the chat has been about us and what we need to improve. The only thing that can beat us is us really.'
