Old Brumbies buddies thrilled to see Mack Hansen 'grow up' in Ireland

Classic Hansen.

The 26-year old spent three years on the books with the Brumbies before landing in Galway and James Slipper listened to another Brumbie, Tom Wright, wax lyrical about Hansen and that journey before giving his own two cents.

“I just think it’s good to see him grow up!” said Slipper ahead of the teams’ latest meeting in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. “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.

“Even back at Brums he used to get his parents to pick him up at training every day and make his lunch and stuff like that. Hopefully he has got that sorted now.”

The delight among former teammates Down Under at Hansen’s success on this side of the equator has been genuine and regular this week, just as it was when the Aussies lost by three points to Andy Farrell’s side in Ballsbridge 24 months ago.

Wright was one of those players Hansen mentioned prior to that match when he had been asked about the prospect of facing old mates. A lot of them, he said then, were “good friends” as he spoke about the family atmosphere in and around the Brumbies outfit.

“It’s bang on. Everyone gets on so well,” Hansen explained. Wright and Hansen’s time in Canberra overlapped by two years.

“He was quickly one of the cult heroes over here for a good reason,” said Australia’s full-back this weekend, “plays a brand of football that's entertaining to watch, was always that skilful, talented player when he was in Canberra.

“He was probably just behind a fair few talented guys in that position. He was sort of a 10/15 coming through the Brumbies ranks, and he was one of the favourite guys in the locker room. It's awesome to see how quickly he adapted to the Irish lifestyle and Irish style of play.

“I was fortunate to play the last time we were here in the Aviva and we were the opposing numbers so we did an awesome jersey exchange which is one of the ones I hold really close to my heart, just as an ex-teammate.”

Hansen isn’t the only tie between the sides. Laurie Fisher, Australia’s defence coach, spent time on the staff at Munster while Eoin Toolan, the skills and analysis coach, is Irish. Finlay Bealham is another Canberra boy while Ireland teammate Tom O’Toole spent ten years in Brisbane.

Joe Schmidt provides another tie that binds.

The current Wallaby head coach is back in Dublin where he spent nine years, three with Leinster and six as Ireland’s main man. Slipper is among the tourists who have been taken aback at the place their boss has in Irish hearts.

“Joe is like a superstar here, wherever we go. The one thing I've noticed is he gets a lot of support. There's a genuine love for the man in Ireland and it goes to show what sort of coach and what sort of person he is.”

Wright highlighted the discipline that Schmidt has instilled into the squad since taking over from the fractious Eddie Jones, the number of debuts handed out as depth is built into the squad, and the way in which the collective improvement has allowed individuals to shine.

Schmidt can be a genial sort off the training park but there is a fiercely-competitive and demanding side to the man during the week that Ireland’s players knew all too well. Wright says this wasn’t a shock so much as a necessity.

“It was something that a lot of us were craving for and knew that it was going to be for the best of the team and to absolutely get the best out of the individuals too. He didn't go full throttle at the start, I'll be honest.

“He used to sort of apologise in advance if he might have chipped a guy here or there at training, but now he doesn't apologize. You just know he's absolutely keeping you accountable for the best of the team.”