'He makes things happen' - Farrell backs Hansen for big impact on his Ireland debut

Andy Farrell says Mack Hansen is fully deserving of his Ireland debut, as the Connacht wing prepares to step up to test rugby.

The 23-year-old starts on the left wing for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), just seven months after arriving in Galway from Austrlia.

The Canberra native - who is Irish qualified by his Cork-born mother - has scored six tries in a breakthrough season at the Sportsground.

And, having spent a week in Irish camp last November, Hansen was brought back into the squad for the Six Nations camp in Portugal where he has impressed the head coach.

"He's a smart rugby player, he makes things happen, he knows how to get himself involved in the game," Farrell said.

"He's got great feel, he’s got a good skillset across the board.

"It’s tough when you come into international camps but the ones that do best and hit the ground running and end up getting a good few caps straight away are the guys that are able to be able to pick things up straight away and Mack has certainly done that."

Farrell confirmed this afternoon that both Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw were not considered for selection due to injury.

Earls will be sent for a scan on a hamstring injury he picked up yesterday, while Henshaw is now recovered from an abductor strain, and will be available against France next week.

"Robbie had a little bit of a niggle on an adductor towards the end of last week, a good few days of rehab has got him back up to speed again.

"He missed a couple of sessions there and that allowed the other three guys to get through his work. Rob is fine but the rehab has done him good so Bundee (Aki) and Ringer (Ringrose) get to start," Farrell added.

Iain Henderson also