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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Andy Farrell hails Ireland star for ‘showing what Lions should do for teammates' with ‘play of the day' vs Western Force
ANDY FARRELL believes Mack Hansen showed "what a Lion should do for his teammates" with one critical moment against the Western Force. The Lions kicked off their tour of Australia with a 1 Mack Hansen in action for the Lions against Western Force Credit: Steve Christo/Sportsfile Connacht winger However, the Lions head coach singled out the Aussie-born star for contributing the "play of the day" late on. After a Josh van der Flier error, the Force threatened to break away for a try. Hansen charged back to gather position and kick clear, before chasing his own kick and forcing a knock-on and winning his side a try. Read More on Lions Speaking to Sky Sports, "But the play of the day, if you want to look what a Lion should do for his teammates was when Mack Hansen went up and down the field, end-to-end, never gave up, and fought for his teammate. "That's the type of spirit that we want throughout the team. So a nice example there." Hansen's stellar showing from the start on Saturday came after he was brought on off the bench in the defeat to Most read in Rugby Union And it came 12 years after he was watching the Lions from the stands, only on that occasion, he was The Canberra-raised ace was 15 when dad Craig took him to watch local outfit the Brumbies take on Warren Gatland's side during the 2013 tour. 'Cried like a baby didn't ya-' - Watch Andy Farrell embarrass Ireland star over reaction to Lions call-up Hansen, who played for the Brumbies from 2018-2021, went wild in the stands as a Lions team including Ireland trio Rob Kearney, Seán O'Brien and Rory Best were downed 14-12. The 27-year-old said: 'It seems like an alternative universe. I remember the buzz around '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. It feels like I'm properly living the dream. 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. '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.'
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mack Hansen ‘living the dream' with British & Irish Lions after once cheering AGAINST them in ‘alternative universe'
MACK HANSEN was baying for Lions blood 12 years ago — now he is lining up for them back in his homeland. The Aussie-born tattoo of Lions coach 2 Mack Hansen will start for the Lions against Western Force Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 He came off the bench in defeat to Argentina Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription Hansen has seen first-hand what it means for an underdog province to topple the Lions when they get their once-in-a-career shot at it. The Canberra-raised ace was 15 when dad Craig took him to watch local outfit the Brumbies take on Warren Gatland's side during the 2013 tour. Hansen, who played for the Brumbies from 2018-2021, went wild in the stands as a Lions team including Ireland trio Rob Kearney, Seán O'Brien and Rory Best were downed 14-12. The 27-year-old said: 'It seems like an alternative universe. I remember the buzz around Read More on Lions '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. It feels like I'm properly living the dream. 'We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. '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.' Most read in Rugby Union Hansen qualifies for He saw the Farrell fear factor in action after the Lions slumped to a 28-24 reverse to 'Cried like a baby didn't ya-' - Watch Andy Farrell embarrass Ireland star over reaction to Lions call-up And Hansen knows what is coming if the tourists slip up again today. But the 28-cap wing insists his side should be knocking over the provincial teams easily before the Test series. He added: '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. 'The only thing that can beat us, is us. We're from four of the best teams in the world, so the expectation is to win regardless of who you're playing. 'You should be winning every time, so every time it's a loss, it just isn't good enough.' LIONS: Daly; Hansen, Ringrose, Tuipulotu, Lowe; Russell, Williams; Schoeman, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, Cummings, McCarthy, Beirne, Van der Flier, Pollock. Reps: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Conan, Mitchell, Jones, M Smith.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Five things the Wallabies learned from the Lions' defeat in Dublin
The former rugby league star and his squad will brood on the defeat during the long flight to Perth, and will arrive desperate to consign the display to history and take out their frustrations on the Force next weekend. Top of the props The Lions were missing the majority of their Leinster contingent against Argentina, including loosehead prop Andrew Porter, who in the stand in the Aviva Stadium basking in rare Dublin sunshine. In his place, England's Ellis Genge made life brutally difficult for Puma's tighthead Joel Sclavi, winning two clear scrum penalties against the La Rochelle prop in the first half. Genge also won another set-piece penalty against his replacement, Brive's Francisco Coria. What is concerning for the Lions is that Porter is even stronger in the scrum than his English teammate. Wallabies scrum coach Mike Cron would have taken pages of notes over his morning coffee. Porter starting and Genge coming off the bench is a monstrous prospect. It is vital that Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa can at least gain parity and then Taniela Tupou hold the Wallabies scrum in the final quarter against a fully firing Genge. Dealing with pressure After Santiago Cordero's spectacular try in the 58th minute, Argentina had to absorb 24 minutes of relentless Lions attacks to hold on to their four-point lead. One of Farrell's favourite players, Canberra-raised winger Mack Hansen, looked dangerous every time he touched the ball and it appeared there were more gears for the Lions to move through in attack. With three minutes left, the Lions were inches away from victory before stand-in captain Tadhg Beirne was penalised for an illegal neck-roll at the breakdown. Lions series are often won by the smallest of margins and this was a rare moment of indiscipline from a player known for his calmness under pressure. The Wallabies will look to sow doubt in the minds of their opponents at every opportunity. The battle at the breakdown The Wallabies squad is thin in parts, particularly the centres and props. But as ever, Australian rugby has an abundance of back-row talent. The Lions were missing one of the best breakaways in the world in Ireland's Josh van der Flier, but the combination of Wales' Jac Morgan and England's Ben Earl and Tom Curry was still a strong unit. It was notable that winger Rodrigo Isgro earned three turnovers at the breakdown, including one that ultimately won the game for his side. English prodigy Henry Pollock came on for 33 minutes, providing a mixed bag which included a crucial missed tackle on the outstanding Pumas playmaker Tomas Albornoz that led to Cordero's match-winning try and an abrasive performance in the loose. Wallabies breakaways Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano both have the potential to cause havoc to the Lions' ball at the breakdown. Familiarity will breed comfort for Lions It was not the Lions' strongest side in Dublin, with the likes of Scotland's Blair Kinghorn still playing for Toulouse. However, there were plenty of players who will be pushing for selection against the Wallabies. The Argentine defence was excellent when it came to scrambling against the Lions' attack and making crucial reads, knowing exactly when to shoot up and put pressure on the ball-carrier. In each tour game leading up to the Tests, Farrell will shuffle his deck before deciding whether to stick or twist with his combinations. One of the ultimate challenges for any Lions player is to unlearn years of programming with their club and country and quickly embrace new attacking patterns. Farrell has picked a large contingent of tried and tested Leinster players, for the very reason that they are so familiar with one another. Conversely, rested Scottish playmaker Finn Russell delights in unstructured, off-the-cuff play. This defeat Lions put the Lions under pressure before their plane had even left the tarmac, but they still have time to become a formidable side before the first Test in Brisbane in just under a month.
The Age
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Five things the Wallabies learned from the Lions' defeat in Dublin
The former rugby league star and his squad will brood on the defeat during the long flight to Perth, and will arrive desperate to consign the display to history and take out their frustrations on the Force next weekend. Top of the props The Lions were missing the majority of their Leinster contingent against Argentina, including loosehead prop Andrew Porter, who in the stand in the Aviva Stadium basking in rare Dublin sunshine. In his place, England's Ellis Genge made life brutally difficult for Puma's tighthead Joel Sclavi, winning two clear scrum penalties against the La Rochelle prop in the first half. Genge also won another set-piece penalty against his replacement, Brive's Francisco Coria. What is concerning for the Lions is that Porter is even stronger in the scrum than his English teammate. Wallabies scrum coach Mike Cron would have taken pages of notes over his morning coffee. Porter starting and Genge coming off the bench is a monstrous prospect. It is vital that Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa can at least gain parity and then Taniela Tupou hold the Wallabies scrum in the final quarter against a fully firing Genge. Dealing with pressure After Santiago Cordero's spectacular try in the 58th minute, Argentina had to absorb 24 minutes of relentless Lions attacks to hold on to their four-point lead. One of Farrell's favourite players, Canberra-raised winger Mack Hansen, looked dangerous every time he touched the ball and it appeared there were more gears for the Lions to move through in attack. With three minutes left, the Lions were inches away from victory before stand-in captain Tadhg Beirne was penalised for an illegal neck-roll at the breakdown. Lions series are often won by the smallest of margins and this was a rare moment of indiscipline from a player known for his calmness under pressure. The Wallabies will look to sow doubt in the minds of their opponents at every opportunity. The battle at the breakdown The Wallabies squad is thin in parts, particularly the centres and props. But as ever, Australian rugby has an abundance of back-row talent. The Lions were missing one of the best breakaways in the world in Ireland's Josh van der Flier, but the combination of Wales' Jac Morgan and England's Ben Earl and Tom Curry was still a strong unit. It was notable that winger Rodrigo Isgro earned three turnovers at the breakdown, including one that ultimately won the game for his side. English prodigy Henry Pollock came on for 33 minutes, providing a mixed bag which included a crucial missed tackle on the outstanding Pumas playmaker Tomas Albornoz that led to Cordero's match-winning try and an abrasive performance in the loose. Wallabies breakaways Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano both have the potential to cause havoc to the Lions' ball at the breakdown. Familiarity will breed comfort for Lions It was not the Lions' strongest side in Dublin, with the likes of Scotland's Blair Kinghorn still playing for Toulouse. However, there were plenty of players who will be pushing for selection against the Wallabies. The Argentine defence was excellent when it came to scrambling against the Lions' attack and making crucial reads, knowing exactly when to shoot up and put pressure on the ball-carrier. In each tour game leading up to the Tests, Farrell will shuffle his deck before deciding whether to stick or twist with his combinations. One of the ultimate challenges for any Lions player is to unlearn years of programming with their club and country and quickly embrace new attacking patterns. Farrell has picked a large contingent of tried and tested Leinster players, for the very reason that they are so familiar with one another. Conversely, rested Scottish playmaker Finn Russell delights in unstructured, off-the-cuff play. This defeat Lions put the Lions under pressure before their plane had even left the tarmac, but they still have time to become a formidable side before the first Test in Brisbane in just under a month.
The Age
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Brumbies speedster bolts into Wallabies squad as big names miss out
Brumbies speedster Corey Toole and Canberra-raised Force hardman Nick Champion de Crespigny have been named as two bolters in a 36-man Wallabies squad named by Joe Schmidt ahead of the British and Irish Lions series next month. After surveying his options through the Super Rugby Pacific season, Schmidt took the covers off his first Wallabies squad of the year, which was named to prepare a Test against Fiji on July 6 but will ostensibly be the Test squad for the three-Test series against the Lions thereafter. The story of the squad is one of consistency, with Schmidt turning mostly to the troops who played for the Wallabies last year. But there were interesting new names on the list, and a handful of unlucky candidates left off it. Toole, the electric Brumbies winger, and 28-year-old back-rower De Crespigny – who played for Sydney Uni and Castres in France before returning to join the Western Force this year – are the only uncapped players in the squad. But there were recalls for Force lock Darcy Swain and Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki, who haven't played Test rugby since 2022 and 2023 respectively. Veteran prop James Slipper was named and can become only the second Wallabies player after George Smith to play in two Test series against the Lions, after he played against them in 2013. Taniela Tupou was named despite speculation he may miss out, following a poor season for the Waratahs.
