'I'm still lost for words sometimes' - Mack Hansen loving 'surreal' Irish call-up

When Connacht announced the signing of Mack Hansen in April of last year, the reaction from Down Under indicated they had pinched a real prospect from under the noses of the Aussies.

We were told he was Irish qualified, and while he only had some limited Super Rugby experiences, those in the know suggested he had bags of natural talent and a real future.

Given Connacht's strike rate on overseas signings, you'd have been confident in Hansen being a success in the west of Ireland. What's surprising is that he's been an instant success.

The 23-year-old is in his first "full" International camp this week. He got his first taste of the Test environment in November when he was drafted in as injury cover, but it was only a short stay.

A second call-up for the opening rounds of the Six Nations this year feels like the real thing, and the Canberra native says he's still pinching himself at the thoughts of potentially becoming an international player.

"I'd be lying if I said just being here would be great - which it would - but being here now I want to put my name forward and hopefully get that cap," he said, as Ireland continue their Six Nations preparations at their training camp in Portugal.

"That would definitely be an accomplishment I hope I can get. If it doesn’t come to that, all I can do is go back, keep playing my rugby and hopefully get another opportunity. Now that I am here and here for the ride I’ll definitely be striving to get that cap."

Hansen has made an instant impact since arriving at the Sportsground from the Brumbies in the summer, scoring six tries in nine games for the province, and particularly announcing himself as a cult hero with a brace in the October Interpro win against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

That