‘The only team that can beat us is us’ – Lions winger Hansen

Mack Hansen couldn’t stop himself from reflecting on the lessons learned from last Friday night’s defeat by Argentina and looking forward to his first start for the British and Irish Lions against Western Force on Saturday.

An arresting line from a compelling character, “The only team that can beat us is us,” he says. “We’re going to let us down if we’re not on it and we’re not doing things to the best of our ability.”

You couldn’t tell from Hansen’s demeanor when he spoke about it that he had a strong impact when he came off the bench against Argentina. The Ireland wing is undoubtedly laid-back, but only a small percentage of who he is thanks to his eccentricity and relaxed personality.

He also has a deadly seriousness. We lost, so it was a really strange feeling because I’ve officially become a Lion, which is incredible and everything. Regardless of the team you’re playing, we are four of the best in the world.

The ACT Brumbies team, which includes his former house-mate Bayley Kuenzle, who starts on the bench for the hosts in Perth, will start with the Australian-born winger starting on Saturday against the Force, a team that includes three of his old friends from the ACT Brumbies.

Hansen’s self-assured attitude is widely praised, but he also reveals a different side. Does he experience anxiety? Will he be concerned before leaving Saturday’s Optus Stadium?

He says, “Definitely, yeah, yeah,” “yes.” I can’t even eat anything, you know, before the game. You have butterflies, you feel sick, and you are undoubtedly carrying all of that, but you are aware that this is the best job there is. I’d rather be in the moment than waiting for them to vanish.

To be honest, anyone who claims they don’t feel anxious is lying. Because there are so many things at stake, playing at those levels is exactly what comes with doing so. There is a meaning to it.

Hansen, 27, has an odd side. He doesn’t score try-scorers very often for his wing. Only once has he ever been an elite player with double-figures. He is not very tall, he isn’t very quick by modern standards, and he isn’t as powerful as many people think. He is not exactly a physical specimen.

However, his entire package is a remarkable package. The secret is in his intelligence. Andy Farrell, his Ireland and Lions coach, enjoys that aspect of it. His game awareness, his decision-making, his work ethic, his sense of space, and his adage, “Do you know what you’re doing right at the right time” are all traits.

“I suppose the other guys, Tommy Freeman, and James Lowe,” would be a little quicker and more aggressive than I am. Simply put, that’s not my style. I make an effort to assist wherever I can, whether that means getting the ball in my hands, playing back, or anything else.

My main focus is on my off-the-ball work, which is why I do it so frequently. Keep working, and wherever I can, try to be as interested in the game. That is a modest assessment. Hanzen is an exceptional player.

He makes some interesting observations about the players’ likely mindsets for Saturday in the Force. That team will undoubtedly be able to prepare for that when you’re facing a large team like ours, he says.

They only have one game until vacation. You can improve. No, we don’t expect anything simple. They aren’t playing the Force this week, and they are saying, “All right, boys, let’s go out here and lose by 40.”

They believe we can cause an uproar, they say.

similar to what the Brumbies did in June 2013. The Canberra boys won 14-12 after Tevita Kuridrani scored the only try.

Hansen, who was born and raised in Canberra and has an Irish mother, recalls, “I was at the Brumbies game and the Brumbies beat the Lions.”

“Things do occur,” he declared. I vividly recall the excitement surrounding that tour, seeing these players you never really get to see. It just seemed so amazing to me and was cool. I’m actually living a dream right now that it’s here and I’m doing it.

Once upon a time, Brumbies’ victory was a glorious memory, but now he’s turning it into a salutary tale and an experience to keep his toes afloat. Fear of failure can be suffocating, but when used wisely, it can be a powerful force for good.

“I attended the Brumbies game with my dad and my brother.” He claims that we were seated in the backseat. You don’t expect anyone to actually do it, so it was a mad thing. Afterward, I spoke with some guys who were enthusiastic about that. They had spent weeks anticipating that game.

Hansen anticipates that the Force will not change. This is a chance for them to bounce back from a bad season, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn over the Lions.